Richard Feynman's Woodpecker
Under a cloudy sky
A hammering woodpecker
Drilled and drummed
On a tree branch
With her chisel-like bill tip.
Then a physicist stepped out
Of his house into the haze
Billowing over the street.
He scratched his bald head
And brooded and pondered
Contemplated and thought
Of the opaque secret of light.
Well, he said, nowadays
Of course we already know
That light can be
Both a particle and a wave,
A stream of arcane photons
Or a recondite river of rays:
Electromagnetic radiation.
But I still
Do not understand it,
He muttered,
For this whole damned thing
Remains elusive and mysterious.
The problem is, he said,
That while sound waves
Propagate through the air
And surface waves in lakes
Or oceans travel in water,
Light can traverse through
Intergalactic nothing
Moving in straight lines
In the vacuum
Of empty space
Without a medium
As electromagnetic waves.
Now, how does this
Silly light do it?
How can it propagate
Without a medium?
And how does it know
Which way is straight?
And why is it a constant?
He asked, and nothing
Can travel faster
Than the speed of light,
That is to say almost
300,000 km per second.
And he suddenly
Remembered that once
Richard Feynman said:
Physicists do not
Really understand physics,
They just get used to it.
And so the physicist just kept
Wondering and scratching
His bald head
Under a cloudy sky.
A dense gray mist
Billowed then over the street
And a hammering woodpecker
Drilled and drummed
On a tree branch
With her chisel-like bill tip.
poem by Paul Hartal
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Related quotes
Light Curves Worships Stars
spectral light
making waves
in solar space
wind begging
come sail stretch
time into eternity
corpuscular light
does not travel
in straight lines
it bows to stars
split images
symmetry solutions
refractions of light
focus with clarity
course distractions
poem by Terence George Craddock
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Faster Than Light
(taylor, taylor, taylor, rhodes, lebon)
Oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Why I see your face
Moving in the aerospace
White light shining, were all alone
Scare of flying, cos here we come
White light, homing in
The speed of light, moving in
Faster than light (the light)
Faster than light (the light)
Faster than light..
Faster than light (the light)
Faster than light (the light)
Faster than light..
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
You see ways by the door
Pulling over years before
White light shining bright, youre all alone
Scare of flying, cos here we come
(chorus)
Light light light light light
Light light light light light
Light light light light light
(chorus)
song performed by by Duran Duran
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Next In Line, Please
You see,
I think you and I are not communica...
'Will that be light, medium or dark roast? '
...ting!
You see,
I am not like the others.
And I am see...
'Would you like light, medium or dark roast? '
...king something not so tart.
Less bitter with a more swee...
'Light! Medium or...
Dark roast.
That's it!
No if's ands or others.'
...tened taste. I don't like your attitude one bit.
I demand to see your supervisor.
Immediately.
'No problem.
Would you like 'your' truth...
Dark, light or medium? '
You did absolutely nothing but change hats.
'And guess what?
You either take that truth light, medium OR dark.
And...
Where is your authorization to stand in this line? '
I need no 'authorization'.
My name is...
'Next in line, please.'
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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Our street light
there we would sit
under the street light
free from the dark
just you and me
having a laugh
talking bout the good times
talking bout the bad
however messed up our lives were
watever pain we were in
the street light would heal us and set us free again
it was our getaway
it was our thing
the street light brought us together
the street light brought us the end
i still remember that street light like that special glow you had my friend
the street light brought us fun
the street light brought us love
the street light brought us warmth as we lay and look at the stars above
i was happy under the street light
as i knew you were too
comforting each other was all we used to do
the street light may be faded
the street light may be dull
but lets just remember the street light kept us going strong!
poem by Brad Brown
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Responsible Intelligence
Intelligence, energy fields filling space
with filigree fingers of lace, interconnected
energy fields form all units of time and space
Mind forms the cosmos and beyond
part of a universal intelligence,
mind changes natural law
As spiritual beings having
a human experience, we
have created it all
Quantum physics describes
far-off action without discernible
cause, consciousness determines
outcome, belief setting direction
Shine a light through a split while
visualising light as a wave, see
smaller waves appear on the
other side, visualise light as
a particle stream and
triangular particle
patterns appear
- So explain to me, how can you
still claim today - you are not
responsible for the events of
yesterday?
poem by Margaret Alice Second
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For under certain conditions the chemical atoms emit light waves of a specific length or oscillation frequency - their familiar characteristic spectra - and these can come in the form of electromagnetic waves only from accelerated electric quanta.
quote by Johannes Stark
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Look at a tree
If you have a problem seek out a tree,
Look you idiot look and you'll see.
Open your eyes and open your soul,
Look at the tree look and you'll know.
See the sun glint through the leaves
See the bark the colours the light this weaves.
See the beauty look at the light,
Look and you'll start feeling alright.
Once now and then, Once in a while
Look at a tree, really look at a tree.
You will notice different colours as light falls on a branch,
This is not a mistake this is not by chance.
There is beauty and wonder in nature you see
Look at a tree look and you'll see.
poem by Scott Winter
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Entanglement
A stream of photons hits a sheet of glass;
no reason some reflect while most go through.
A certain depth allows them all to pass;
the ones that go before must give a clue.
The photons harmonize, their gift is art.
They love to spread as waves and keep in touch.
Send two entangled photons far apart,
if one is read, the other knows as much.
Yet no communication goes between,
for nothing can exceed the speed of light.
And why do random photons trampoline
from glass, while random others last the flight?
Though Einstein thought that God does not throw dice,
seems Lucifer took contrary advice.
poem by Diane Hine
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Light Years
Written: kylie minogue, biff stannard and julian gallagher
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Listen can you hear the distance calling
Far away but will be with you soon
Rocket into outer space in orbit
Take us to the pop stars on the moon
Ahhh, ahhhh, ahhhh, travel in light years
Ahhh, ahhhh, ahhhh, travel in light years
Have yourself a taste of foreign glamour
Feeding on our way to something new
Missing for a night but gone forever
But they are here to take good care of you
Ahhh, ahhhh, ahhhh, travel in light years
Ahhh, ahhhh, ahhhh, travel in light years
Ahhh, ahhhh, ahhhh, travel in light years
Ahhh, ahhhh, ahhhh, travel in light years
Spoken:
Please fasten your seat belts
My name is kylie,
Ill be your purser
The exits are in the front and the rear of the craft
Get up to get down at discoteca
Take a breath and take the plunge my dear
Maybe things that you dont know are better
Ill take you in my capsule out of here
Ahhh, ahhhh, ahhhh, travel in light years
Ahhh, ahhhh, ahhhh, travel in light years
Ahhh, ahhhh, ahhhh, travel in light years
Ahhh, ahhhh, ahhhh, travel in light years
Thank you for flying km air
We hope had a pleasant flight
Please fly with us again
song performed by by Kylie Minogue
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Best Way To Travel
And you can fly
High as a kite if you want to
Faster than light if you want to
Speeding through the universe
Thinking is the best way to travel
Its all a dream
Light passing by on the screen
And theres you and I on the beam
Speeding through the universe
Thinking is the best way to travel
We ride the waves
Distance is gone, will we find out?
How life bean, will be find out?
Speeding through the universe
Thinking is the best way to travel
And you can fly
High as a kite if you want to
Faster than light if you want to
Speeding through the universe
Thinking is the best way to travel
song performed by by Moody Blues
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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With A Roaring Sound Waves Crash
With a roaring sound waves crash
under Waenhuiskrans,
and they cave there
when gigantic tongues of spray
like white stars break mightily
drenching everything with deep water
like white stars,
like white stars
just before the red dawn comes.
With a roaring sound waves crash
deep out of the dark sea,
like a pack of hungry wolves
that does not give up territory
the water keeps hammering
where it knocks against hard rock,
the water keeps hammering.
the water keeps hammering
until it flows through the cave itself.
With a roaring sound waves crash,
hit battering blows
with endless power
into the folds of the rock
and caught you and I stand
where we see a spectacle
and caught
and caught
mightily the sea sweeps past.
poem by Gert Strydom
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All This Is That
I am that, thou art that, and all this is that
I am that, thou art that, all this is that
I am that, thou art that, all this is that
This is that
Oooo
Daybreak and I take a glide
Into the pool of peace inside
(two waves travel by)
To waves and I both travel by
(and that makes all the difference to me)
Life supporting waves of bliss
Mother divines precious kiss
Brings with love the light of wisdom
And the gift of eternal freedom
To waves and I both travel by
(... and the nature of man...)
And that makes all the difference to me
(krishna...)
All this is that
I am that, thou art that, all this is that
I am that, thou art that, all this is that
This is that
This is that
Dusk time the shadows fall
Into the timeless time of all
To waves and I both travel by
Golden auras glow around you
Omnipresent love surrounds you
Wisdom warming as the sun
You and I are truly one
To waves and I both travel by
And that makes all the difference to me
I am that, thou art that, all this is that
I am that, thou art that, all this is that
I am that, thou art that, all this is that
I am that, thou art that, all this is that
I am that, thou art that, all this is that
I am that, thou art that, all this is that
I am that, thou art that, all this is that
Jai guru dev
(I am that, thou art that, all this is that)
Jai
(I am that, thou art that, all this is that)
Jai guru dev
(I am that, thou art that, all this is that)
Jai
(I am that, thou art that, all this is that)
(jai guru dev)
(jai guru dev)
(jai guru dev)
Jai guru dev
(jai guru dev)
(jai guru dev)
(jai guru dev)
Jai
(I am that, thou art that, all this is that)
Jai guru dev
Jai
Jai guru dev
Jai
Jai guru dev
song performed by by Beach Boys
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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A Annoying Woodpecker
The woodpecker pecks gracefully
On the side of the house.
It's bothersome raps
wake me from a sound sleep.
I stumble out of bed in a
Sleepy fog, and walk outside
To somehow quiet the loud clatter.
I walk up to the house
The small woodpecker is startled
And hastily flies away.
He perches on a small branch
And looks at me
I leave the woodpecker
To his business
In hopes that he would get
Bored and leave
For my house's sake.
poem by Melanie Dickie
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Light?
Have you ever wounderd from where light came
If the wondering of light is just a game
If light is playing a trick on our eyes
If light is just a bunch of lies
If light has a tempreture cold as ice
If light is actually hot as rice
If light can run around the room
If light will lead us to our doom
If light can catch a traveling ball
If light can hear our pleading call
If light needs us to see ing the dark
If light can produce a menacing bark
If light can flow as fast as sound
If light is only on earth bound
If light can take a human form
If light can get caught up ina storm
I often wonder what light can do
but its secrets are not for me and you
poem by Samantha Ridley
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A Trustworthy Guardian
A lighthouse
stands lofty,
tall and straight,
erect in its stark
simplicity.
Its light
beams out
across the waves,
rotating,
warning all
who come too near
that the
face of death,
here, rears its ugly head.
With breakers crashing
onto the rocks
around its base,
and the spray lifting
forty feet or more,
one feels the force
of the water
as it plunges
back again
into the surging foam.
This beacon
is a constant
emission,
a guiding light
to all who venture
out upon the sea
in all kinds
of vessels.
Its light
pierces the darkness,
unrelenting in its
gyration,
sending a signal
to forewarn.
A vigilant
and trustworthy guardian,
and an assuagement,
for all those
mariners
who are
ocean bound.
poem by Ernestine Northover
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Of Light
At dawn you leave. The river wears its skin of light.
And I traced love’s loss to the origin of light.
“I swallow down the goodbyes I won’t get to use.”
At grief’s speed she waves from a palanquin of light.
My book’s been burned? Send me the ashes, so I can say:
I’ve been sent the phoenix in a coffin of light.
From History tears learn a slanted understanding
of the human face torn by blood’s bulletin of light.
It was a temporal thought. Well, it has vanished.
Will Promethus commit the mortal sin of light?
She said, “My name is icicles coming down from it…”
Did I leave it, somewhere, in a margin of light?
When I go off alone, as if listening for God,
there’s absolutely nothing I can win of light.
Now everything’s left to the imagination -
a djinn has deprived even Aladdin of light.
We’ll see Manhattan, a bride in diamonds, one day
abashed to remind her sweet man, Brooklyn, of light.
“A cheekbone, / A curved piece of brow, / A pale eyelid…”
And the dark eye I make out with all within of light.
Stranger, when the river leans toward the emptiness,
abandon, for my darkness, the thick and thin of light.
poem by Agha Shahid Ali
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The cute woodpecker
A cute woodpecker
Is hammering with its beak
A coconut tree.
poem by Asif Andalib
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Light Is
Light is the breaking of dawn
Light is the load when you are just born
Light is a place without any fear
Light is when your lover is near
Light is a heart that's open and free
Light is a place where truth you can see
Light is a feeling that's good
Light is when everything's clear, understood
Light is the absence of dark
Light is a summer picnic in a beautiful park
Light is just simply walking on air
Light is what makes the shine in her hair
Light is what warms and what feeds
Light is not having any more needs
Light is a magical feeling inside
Light is the side of the street to reside
Light is always and always will be
Light is what joins us, him, you and me
Light Is.
poem by David Taylor
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Defining the Indefinable Light
As I inched away from your love
I walk into darkness of a deep sea,
Enveloped in dark clouds,
Layer upon layer of waves
You are the Light of lights
Of heavens and earth
Light the blinding Light!
Light the awakening Light!
A speaking Light that begun
before the birth of question
Light coursing beyond the answers
that beget but questions!
Light a beckoning
Light a reckoning Light!
A Light too high to cede to our darkness
poem by Frank Lisa IndiRa Francesca Roger Platt Cornish Ma
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Light
Light that can be kind. Light that can smell sweet. Light that can be soft.
Light that can be porcelain. Light that can be silent. Light that can speak.
Light that can hold many colors. Light that can be romantic. Light that can be harsh.
Light that can be cold. Light that can be warm. Light that can be dry.
Light that can be loud. Light that can be love. Light that can be faith.
Light that can be full of strength. Light that can be pure. Light that can be dark.
Light that can be fragile. Light that can be crazy. Light that can be weird.
Light that can be old. Light that can be new. Light that can be inbetween.
Light that can be swift. Light that can be sharp. Light that can wonder.
Light that can be insane. Light that can be smooth. Light that can dream.
Light that can be free. Light that can be everlasting. Light that can be wild.
Light that is the lord. Light that is Jesus. Light that is holy.
Light that is the trinity. Light that can belong. Light that can be fast.
Light that can sing. Light that is the holy ghost. Light that is the Bible.
Light that can be a mith. Light that can be still. Light that can be different.
Light that can be hole. Light that can be true. Light that can be whimsical.
Light that can be bright. Light that can be formed. Light that is blessed.
Light that can be full of presence. Light that can tell a story. Light that can be intelligent.
Light that is like no other!
poem by Shania K. Younce
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