John Updike

After reading the September 1967 Scientific American, John Updike composed the following poem. All things are Atoms: Earth and Water, Air And Fire, all, Democritus foretold. Swiss Paracelsus, in's alchemic lair, Saw Sulfur, Salt, and Mercury unfold Amid Mellennial hopes of faking Gold. Lavoisier dethroned Phlogiston; hen Molecular Analysis made bold Forays into the gases: Hydrogen Stood naked in the dazzled sight of Learned Men. ... read the entire poem on Scientific American's web site