Science Rhymes - Scientific Poetry & Environmental Poems

ChatGPT and Poetry

Science Rhymes is accepting submissions for our BRIGHT IDEAS poetry contest with National Science Week 2023. Using AI, such as ChatGPT, is allowed on the understanding that such poems are attributed to the person & AI neural network used. Below, is a justification and guide for using AI written by ChatGPT, a Q & A segment, followed by A Science Rhyme by John & ChatGPT.

ORIGINS OF THE FUTURE crayon drawing by Sharon Davson

ChatGPT’s ability to write rhymes about science, nature, and the environment presents a unique and engaging way to explore these topics. By using poetic techniques such as rhyme and rhythm, ChatGPT can create memorable and enjoyable verses that aid in the retention of information. Rhymes have long been recognized as powerful mnemonic devices, helping individuals remember and recall complex concepts with ease. When applied to scientific subjects, this approach can be particularly beneficial for students.

Poetry has the capacity to transform scientific and environmental concepts into vivid, imaginative expressions. By employing evocative language, metaphor, and storytelling, ChatGPT can bring these topics to life, making them more relatable and accessible. The rhythmic nature of rhymes enhances the appeal, embedding the information into the memory through the repetition and musicality of the verses.

While ChatGPT can provide links to sources for the poems it generates, it’s important to exercise caution and verify the accuracy of the information. ChatGPT is a language model trained on a vast corpus of text, but it doesn’t have direct access to the internet or the ability to browse web pages in real time. Therefore, it’s advisable to cross-reference the information provided by ChatGPT with reputable sources to ensure its accuracy.

To best ensure the accuracy of science information in the poems, it’s essential to provide clear guidelines and prompt ChatGPT with accurate scientific facts. Clearly specify the desired topic, outline the key points, and emphasize the importance of scientific accuracy. By providing specific details and referencing trusted sources, the resulting rhymes will have a higher likelihood of being factually correct.

Incorporating ChatGPT’s rhymes into educational settings can stimulate students’ interest and engagement with science, nature, and the environment. The combination of creativity and accurate information helps foster a deeper understanding and long-term retention of the topics at hand. By tapping into the power of poetry, ChatGPT opens up a world of possibility for students to explore, appreciate, and remember the wonders of science, nature, and the environment.

Prompt given to ChatGPT was: Write 300 words about how ChatGPT can write rhymes about science, nature and the environment. Can this help students remember new topics? Can ChatGPT provide links to sources for the poems it creates? Include guidelines to best ensure the science information is accurate.

Answering John’s questions on ChatGPT poetry

Have you tried using ChatGPT? In February, my friend Nicky and I gave ChatGPT a prompt to create a funny rhyme about black holes. (You’ll find that poem at the end of the PDF Clever Concepts in Science.) I included this poem as I am allowing ChatGPT or equivalent AI co-authored poems in this year’s Science Week blog of poetry – on the understanding that writers acknowledge the language AI they have used to co-author a poem.
What happens if two people ask ChatGPT to do exactly the same thing? Will it always create the same poem? ChatGPT has limited contextual memory, so perfect duplicates would probably be coincidental rather than expected.
What do you think of the poem John & ChatGPT came up with? I liked it more than the Black Hole poem experiment. Perhaps that’s because prompt information given by John was more specific and included “written in the style of Celia Berrell”.
Is it original or has ChatGPT just taken lines from your published works? It’s original as far as my own poetry is concerned.
Have you read any articles about concerns over training AI on copyrighted material? Yes I recently read New Scientist’s May issue 3435 on the AI Revolution. I think giving these neural networks access to copyrighted material is essentially a form of theft, particularly since someone else will profit from it. However, it may be the only way such Large Language Models could acquire sufficient “quality” language training.
Were you impressed with the reference links supplied by ChatGPT? YES! It appears that “in the style of” prompted the neural network to search for examples.
Are you pleased to be part of the AI training material or annoyed? I’d say I’m ambivalent. I themed this year’s call for poems for Science Week around the poem “Mother of Invention”, accompanied by an image of the drawing “Origins of the Future” by Sharon Davson (which inspired the poem & features at the top of this page). This image and poem’s sentiments make it clear there is no way to put the stopper back in the bottle now! So there’s not much point in just being upset about it. Better to work out how we can safely learn to navigate and legislate for its pitfalls ASAP.
Is it a good thing that your poems are now incorporated into this ‘AI intellect’? Is this a form of immortality for you? I like to think my Science Rhymes creations/intellect helps make the world a better place – at least for some. Perhaps a part of that will live on. But I would personally prefer to avoid being around if AI becomes sentient and we all have to contend with ITS FEELINGS … THAT WOULD BE DISASTROUS!

John’s Prompt to ChatGPT: write a poem in the style of Celia Berrell

ChatGPT’s response: Celia Berrell is an Australian poet who writes poems for children. Her poems are usually about science and nature and are written in a way that makes them easy to understand and fun to read. Here’s a poem in the style of Celia Berrell:

A Science Rhyme created by John & ChatGPT

The world is full of wonder,
From the smallest ant to the tallest tree,
There’s so much to discover,
And so much more to see.

The stars above us twinkle,
In the sky so dark and deep,
And when we look up at them,
We can’t help but feel complete.

The oceans are so vast,
And the creatures that live within,
Are all so different and unique,
It’s like a whole new world to begin.

So let’s explore this world of ours,
And all that it has to give,
For there’s nothing quite as wonderful,
As the life that we all live.

ChatGPT’s Source: Conversation with Bing, 13/05/2023
(1) Celia Berrell | Australian Children’s Poetry Website.
https://australianchildrenspoetry.com.au/australianpoets/a-e/celia-berrell/ Accessed 13/05/2023.

(2) “The Beauty of it All” by Celia Berrell | Australian Children’s Poetry …. https://australianchildrenspoetry.com.au/2019/12/29/the-beauty-of-it-all-by-celia-berrell/ Accessed 13/05/2023.

(3) “Peace by Piece” by Celia Berrell – Australian Children’s Poetry …. https://australianchildrenspoetry.com.au/2019/12/30/peace-by-piece-by-celia-berrell/ Accessed 13/05/2023.

If you’ve read down to here, CONGRATULATIONS! I hope you’ve found this information helpful. And good luck with any poems you create.

Category: Blog

Posted on Wednesday, May 31st, 2023 at 4:25 pm.

All Ages of Geek: Celia’s Interview

Celia’s Bookshelf

“YES” is a magical word that leads into the intriguing world of ALL AGES OF GEEK. Follow the link below to travel through internet time and space to find TREASURE – in the form of poems, poetry writing tips and Science Rhymes experiences that could ultimately transform you into ONE OF US! It’s a detailed journey, courtesy of AAOG publicist and writer Ryder Sterling’s clever questions. I hope you are tempted to dive in … and geek out HERE!

Tagged: bio, interview, kidlit, poems, science, tips

Category: Blog

Posted on Wednesday, May 17th, 2023 at 3:29 pm.

Victorian Fairies

Fact and fantasy frequently held fairy-like hands in a quest to educate the privileged children of Victorian times (1837- 1901). Books such as The Fairy-Tales of Science: A book for youth by John Cargill Brough (1858) aimed to enchant as well as educate their young readers.

Microscopes popularised the idea of miniature fairies to guide children through wonderlands of insects, microbiology and chemistry. For example, The Fairy Land of Science by Arabella Buckley (1878) and The Fairy Land of Chemistry: Explorations in the World of Atoms by Lucy Rider Meyer (1887). Even The Water Babies by Charles Kingsley (1886) alluded to concepts relating to evolution.

This poem celebrates Victorian fairies and fairies on top of Christmas Trees everywhere as ambassadors of science. We are all being politely reminded to take care by washing our hands to keep out germs and viruses – particularly during this festive season – by those fantastical fairies!

Victorian Fairies by Celia Berrell

The Fairy Queen of Britain
was Victoria, who hit on
having Christmas tree sensations
for the festive celebrations.

Doting Dads bought girls and boys
expensive scientific toys
like microscopes, revealing scenes
that taught of hazards and hygiene.

Fairies shrank to tiny size
like Tinkerbells and butterflies
and showed kids new technologies
through books with science mysteries.

Detergent, soap took Fairy’s name
for health and hygiene’s serious game.
That fairy on the Christmas tree
worked magic scientifically!

Category: Blog

Posted on Tuesday, November 29th, 2022 at 2:42 pm.

Artemis1

After three false starts, NASA’s Moon rocket called Artemis 1, finally launched on Wednesday 16^th November 2022. We are celebrating with a poem of course!

Gifts of Gratitude Afloat by Celia Berrell

Where would we find
a collection like this?
Afloat on the sea
or on Artemis?

Some Girl Scout badges,
a Dead Sea pebble,
tree seeds & Snoopy,
a Greek Goddess model,
two astronaut toys,
a piece of old rocket,
some artwork and poems
in USB lockets,
a comic from Peanuts,
a stuffed Shaun the Sheep,
a small pinch of moon dust
to scatter or keep.

With good-luck mementos
on Artemis One,
this Moon Rocket launch
is finally done!

Its first launch date in August was cancelled due to lightning strikes and a fuel leak. September saw more technical troubles. Then in October, the giant rocket was trundled back inside its hanger as Hurricane Ian raged near the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida USA.

It has a busy schedule which you can view on this artemis-i-map.

Artemis 2 will be next, taking astronauts beyond the Moon. Artemis 3 will be the first mission to land people on the Moon since Apollo 17 in 1972 … over fifty years ago!

Category: Blog

Posted on Thursday, November 17th, 2022 at 9:56 am.

Hunting Dragons

Hunting dragons among pages of gracefully flowing algae reminded me of being timelessly engaged with a puzzle challenge to find fairies craftily hidden in a picture when I was a child. Only the Way of the Weedy Seadragon introduces us to a fascinating creature that really exists!

It’s not just a delightful picture book: it’s a science book, explaining the physiology, behaviour and charm of Phyllopteryx taeniolatus (that’s its Latin name) through a perfect combination of engaging facts and exquisite illustrations.

After reading the Way of the Weedy Seadragon, I’m proud to know they are native to the southern coasts of Australia. (In fact they’re one of Victoria’s State Emblems!) I found learning and viewing them in this enchanting and accurate portrayal was empowering – as well as provoking a sense of awe and care for these dainty fish.

When I asked Fraser Coast Libraries if I could borrow this recent CSIRO children’s publication, they kindly purchased a copy, so local residents can enjoy it too. Author Anne Morgan and illustrator Lois Bury have created a winning partnership here.

Fairies may fly in our imagination, but dragons really snort and dance in our seas. I hope you will check them out!

at Hervey Bay Library

Category: Blog

Posted on Wednesday, August 24th, 2022 at 11:54 am.

The Many Faces of GLASS

We have fourteen poems in celebration of National Science Week 2022 – GLASS: more than meets the eye. Congratulations to all the poets who kindly participated, sharing their words of intrigue, history, science and beauty. Please enjoy!

Glass
by Rylee (Gunnedah South Public School)

Glass can easily smash
Glass can break in a dash

People use glass for mugs
But it’s not for pugs or bugs

It is used to make lots of jars
And there’s actually glass on Mars!

Corners that meet the eye
by Michaela

Glass
in the four corners
that meet the eye.

Rooms
filled with the
reflection of yourself
show who you really are.

Formed
with tiny pieces of sand with
the minerals changing its
colour in every corner.

Cracks
consume the many faces
like thunder and
lightning striking them.
And everything in its path

slowly builds it up again
but not as strong and
solid as before. These
are the faces, the many
faces that meet the eye.

Mirror: more than meets the eye
by Ksenia

From one angle of the mirror,
a young girl is studying.
From another,
an adult is partying.

Only one thing can affect our decisions,
one thing becomes a guide.

Our Mind.

Where we store dreams, hopes,
things we want no one to know.

Yet, it has
more secrets of its own.

More…
than we will ever know.

Glasswork Skin
by Jasmine (St Thomas Moore College, Sunnybank, QLD)

I am a stained glass terrarium.
From the outside looking in
my organs float,
structured with nature’s perfection
which is to say
exquisitely organised.

The glass itself is
streaked with human touch:
fingerprinted with ridges
fogged-up with breath
feverishly wiped
and repeated.

This body of mine is fragile
beautiful, in theory
vulnerable, in reality
every scratch is disillusion,
making me undeniably
still life.

Cloak and Dagger
by Cheryl Polonski

Glass manufacture goes back a long way.
The skill was a secret, they kept it that way.
It appears that the knack from the Middle East came,
but when it reached Venice things weren’t quite the same.

1200 AD saw the Syrian men,
come under the rule of the Council of Ten.
The Venice Republic security arm,
made sure that the craftsmen would come to no harm.

When furnaces failed and caused fires uncontrolled,
they’d move to an island the craftsmen were told.
Because all the knowledge was fiercely protected,
what happened there next was still not unexpected.

The glassmakers stayed under threats to their lives.
This involved all their family including their wives.
They never could leave but were somewhat rewarded,
with several benefits being afforded.

The glassblowers’ daughters could marry nobility,
bestowing upon them a sense of tranquillity
Producing the best of all glass on display,
the fame of Murano exists to this day.

The Art of Glass
by Sophia Healdgrove

The sandy mineral silica
makes stained glass for the basilica.

Melted with other elements
its colours and hues are brightly intense.

Hot glowing balls of fiery glass
Used in making scientist’s Erlenmeyer flasks.

Beautiful bowls, moulded and curved
a delight on which food can be served.

For hundreds of years, glass artisans toiled
As the glass in their furnaces boiled

They created such delicate works of wonder.
But recently trade began to go under.

The German city of Hamelin
has one glasshouse where many had been.

Machines taking over from made by man
will never achieve what humans can.

The craft of glass-making is precious and rare.
Hand-made, beautiful, intricate glassware.

So let us conserve this beautiful art.
Please trust that I give these words from the heart.

Obsidian spear head

Humble Beginnings
by Cheryl Polonski

A natural glass was once found on the land
near the mouths of volcanoes which melted the sand.
Those obsidian pieces were sharper you see,
than anything else in 4,000 BC.

Our stone-age ancestors then used them for spears.
The benefits recognised down through the years.
For surgeries stainless steel scalpels are made,
but some still prefer an obsidian blade.

The earliest use was for jewellery and beads,
but soon ‘twas discovered, glass filled other needs.
By focussing through a shard, rays of the sun,
the lighting of fires was easily done.

When open wounds threatened life, it was thought wise
to make use of this method and thus cauterise.
The heat focussed through the glass stopped the blood seep.
Experimentation then took quite a leap.

So from humble beginnings there was such a race
for this startling discov’ry to find its true place.
In just about every conceivable science,
there is upon glass a specific reliance.

Curious Sand
by Toni Newell

On a stormy night
If lightning strikes sand
Glass can be formed
On the beach unplanned.
Making glass commercially
Comes in many shapes
Can be a glass or a vase
Even a bowl of grapes.
Just add a few minerals
To make it coloured glass
Formed into a different shape
Sand of a different class.

Mystic Glass
by Toni Newell

Walking on the beach
Beneath our feet is sand
However those little grains
Can become a glass in hand.
Sand, lime and soda ash
Using extreme heat
Can form many objects
From which we drink and eat.
It can take a million years
For glass to decompose
That’s why we should recycle
And save our planet woes.

Prince Rupert’s Drop
by Myra King

There is a strange phenomenon,
that many may not know,
it’s a drop of glass, a rounded shape,
from firing’s heating glow.

Prince Rupert’s Drop a splendid name
in royal connotation
has a strength that’s way beyond
most imagination.

It can’t be wrecked or smashed by hand
in any way or form
but a fragile state belies its fate
way outside the norm.

Rupert’s Drop’s Achilles’ heel
is its tail long and thin
and if this is snapped the tension’s broke
from just beneath its skin.

A million pieces shatter
to burst the lovely drop
it all happens in an instant
in one explosive pop!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lt-zvsGvtqg

Glassical Music
by Sukarma Thareja

Fine glassy goblets for dinner wine
when gently tapped, will tinkle and chime.
If rubbed with damp fingers around their rim,
like an upside-down bell, they start to ring.

Their shape and their size dictate how each hums.
Large empty glasses might groan like a drum.
Pour in some liquid to make their pitch higher.
Together they’ll sound like an eerie choir!

https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/food-facts/question603

GLASS for the CLASS
by Stefan Nicholson

You are tough and often stand guard within a frame,
Like as a window, or fronting a picture,
Or focussing our gaze, when our eyes are not the same.
And I often see through you, unless disguised by your coating,
Put on to dull your amorphous transparent mixture,
Of soda, silica, limestone and ‘fancier’ bits, you often say when gloating.

And it’s obsidian to say that you can’t be naturally found,
A universal secret without human intervention.
And your boast about rapid cooling makes my blood boil,
For when you were made, you were just too hot to handle,
Making parched lungs wait, for when you were of malleable intention,
Else creating such strange objects, as if made by a mischievous vandal.

Yet, I am overwhelmed by the stresses that you quietly hide
Within your new shape or moulded design,
Made whilst gooey like molten plastic, where no animal can abide.
Which makes for great fun when a glass animal is ‘born’
And you see its wonders in detail and colours and lines
Made by us humans, as we’ve been doing from time’s early dawn.

As an art, you are an object of delight in many ways,
Mimicking nature, abstract designs and useful objects to name a few.
Modern buildings tease out new conceptual uses for your display,
Fish swim within your bounds and plants bathe in wind-less sunshine.
You protect and make for easy cleaning – to let us enjoy a safer view
From the sky, on the water, where we can watch the world as we dine.

Broken items can be accidental and there is none more dangerous than glass,
With your warped sharp edges and shards that can stick you like a pin.
But no blame to you, as QA have given you a ‘pass’.
And your character can now be changed, by material science at its best,
To make you stronger, withstand heat and shock, and be made ultra-thin
But I wish that people knew you better, not as a product, but as our guest.

Handle Me With Care
by Sukarma Thareja & Celia Berrell

Sea-shore sand and potash, soda,
made my common sturdy solid.
Crafted since Egyptian times,
my structure is non-crystalline.

My recipes of compound chemicals
make me practical and beautiful.
Sometimes heat-resistant, durable,
always totally recyclable.

Many of my forms are brittle.
Shattered shards of glassy needles
hurt and harm. They stab and tear.
So handle me with care. Beware!

Aliens in the Atacama Desert
by Celia Berrell

This desert is dotted
with dark green glass
that came from an alien …
space rock blast!

Punching through air
so incredibly fast,
pressure, heat, friction
became so vast
the silica sand
on the desert below
melted to glass
as that comet explodes.

These alien minerals
scattered the scene,
which seems to have made
those glassy shards green.

Category: Blog, Your Science Poems

Posted on Wednesday, August 3rd, 2022 at 5:02 pm.

Imagining a TARDIS for World Poetry Day

The lovely Saime Jung at Twinkl, where teachers create and share inspiring resources for students, has compiled a list of 15 favourite poetry blogs, which includes Science Rhymes! She also asked “Why do you think that learning poetry is so cool?” Poetry has so many styles, forms and facets. Some sends our imagination into different situations, feelings and places. One person may connect with a poem in a way that makes them laugh or gasp, whereas others might find the same words deeply emotional.

What’s your answer this question?

We might say rhymes help us remember; poems create crazy ideas or that verses can be shared over and over again. What do you reckon to this suggestion for World Poetry Day?

Imagining a TARDIS by Celia Berrell
(Time And Relative Dimension In Space)

What a wonderful toy
is the TARDIS!
It’s Doctor Who’s
little blue box.

It’s bigger inside.
So much stuff it can hide,
from a skate-park to
clean pairs of socks.

Owning
a magical TARDIS,
do you think it’s a
secret we’d keep?

Or would that depend
on inviting some friends …
and whether
we’d need any sleep?

With a
stay-or-go-anywhere TARDIS,
there are infinite things
we could do.

It has so much appeal,
for a toy that’s not real …
let’s imagine instead
that it’s true!

This poem was inspired by an article called The Physics of the Doctor Who TARDIS box and was first published in Australian Children’s Poetry.

Category: Blog, Blog

Posted on Saturday, March 19th, 2022 at 2:17 pm.

OUR FRUIT & VEGGIE-VERSE

Science Rhymes grew a collection of YOUR SCIENCE POEMS about the fruity facts and leafy love we have for our fruits and vegetables, to celebrate this year’s SCIENCE WEEK (14-22 August). Thank you to everyone who shared their poems. Please enjoy our harvest of tasty poetry!

22 Delectable Fruits and Vegetables by Michayla
(St Peter’s Catholic College, Tuggerah, NSW)

I love these fruits and vegetables.
In great abundance they flourish.
Nourishing and delectable,
our Earth they have embellished.

Their juice trickles down our chin,
with flavours so divine.
Plump fruit with flesh so thin,
a taste like wine refined.

Beneath the earth those vegetables grow,
dug deep into soil and grime.
Nourished in the darkness below,
their roots and soil entwined.

Animals feast on these delectables,
spreading their seeds far and wide.
They grow and ripen, as they are able,
to tempt the creatures where they abide.

With fruits and vegetables life can flourish,
singing with their sweetest scent.
They help make Earth healthy and nourished,
so creatures and humans are well content.

Do your cabbages and other brassica vegetables sometimes taste a bit … bitter? That will be the flavinoid (flavour chemical) kaempferol!

21 The Properties of a Cabbage by Sophia

As I watch my cabbages grow and grow,
the hungry caterpillars add to their woes.

Then they sprout and then they’re picked.
For dinner they’re cooked and taste perfect.

Not all the cabbages grown for our dishes
are sweet and mild-tasting, just what one wishes.

Their taste’s from the chemical kaempferol
which doesn’t affect our cholesterol.

Whether eaten as sauerkraut or boiled with sprouts
some of their vitamins get cooked out.

If it’s boiled in water the chemistry changes.
Some soluble vitamins go down the drainage.

I’ve detailed their properties, please don’t ignore.
Go eat some cabbages, cooked or raw!

20 Glorious Potato by Alma
(Pennant Hills Public School, Pennant Hills NSW)

I push the veg around my plate,
Where do they come from?
Who grew, who ate?
I open my mouth to ask my Mum …

But no! Instead, I shall consult a book.
I know where to go,
I know where to look.
My eyes grow wider, aha! Aho!

Growing below, deep down in the soil
Storing-up sugars from the Sun,
starchy tubers, hard to spoil.
But where do they really come from?

South America’s their native land.
By boat potatoes went
to USA, to Ireland.
A food that’s so convenient.

Mashed, fried, roasted, boiled,
Hark! This veg, let it glow,
We’ve all been spoiled
by the glorious potato!

19 Amazing Fruits by Soha
(Mary MacKillop College, Kensington SA)

Fruits are so sweet
Make you jump into the air
With lots of colours

Fruits make you dream
Eat them with their shiny skin
Unable to resist

Fruits are the key
To make children more happy
To give them a treat

Fruits are the way
To sweet fructose cheer
It is happiness

Fruits are delicate
Leave them out too long
they will turn very sad

So, eat sweet fruit now!
It’s the way to be good
They are the juice of life

18 Fruit and Veggies by Jacqui
(Pennant Hills Public School, Pennant Hills, NSW)

Before you begin your day
pick up some fruit and eat away.
Apple, peach and watermelon,
banana, mango and lemon.

Lots of veggies taste good too,
as a snack or in a stew.
Carrots, peas, lettuce and more,
veggies are awesome, so never ignore.

Apples are juicy with a crunch,
bananas are great, just to munch.
Fruit and veg are so nutritious,
not to mention that they’re delicious.

So, before you begin your day,
pick up some fruit and eat away,
When fruit’s your thing and you’re feeling hungry,
just don’t eat the ones with mouldy fungi!

17 Save Our Planet by Braxton
(Brisbane Boys’ College, Toowong QLD)

The ocean is moping,
the reef is weeping,
the air is in pain
and we are to blame.

We can save them by using
sustainable electricity.
Stop burning coal,
and those fossil fuels.

Stop cutting down trees,
be more caring please.
This is how we do it,
how we
Save Our Planet!

16 Tomato Decisions (Limerick) by Gabrielle
(Mary MacKillop College, Kensington SA)

Is it a fruit or a vegetable?
It’s true they’re juicy and edible,
have a great tangy taste,
which can make pizza paste.
A collectable fruit for a festival!

15 Watermelon by Corina
(Mary MacKillop College, Kensington SA)

A watermelon grows from the ground.
A succulent gourd that’s green and round,
it tastes so juicy, sweet and fruity,
one of Earth’s beauties, the best fruit around!

Grapes are an example of a soft fruit that WANTS to be eaten! That way, its seeds are dispersed far away from the parent vine. So don’t feel sad for the grape eaten by this little ape.

14 Grape on a roll by Emily
(Mary MacKillop College, Kensington SA)

Here comes a rolling grape
caught by a hungry baby ape.
Falling freshly off the vine,
this outcome is so NOT divine.
Let’s hope another rolling grape
gets to make a great escape!

Grapes are the perfect shape to pop in your mouth! These ready-wrapped berries contain water, sugars (glucose and fructose) and organic acids (tartaric, malic and a little citric). But berries naturally contain seeds don’t they? So how can we grow seedless grapes?

13 Grapes and Crepes by Lucy
(Mary MacKillop College, Kensington SA)

I love to eat grapes,

they’re a wonderful shape.
Some juicy and sweet,
while some are sour.

They’re my favourite thing
to eat with crepes.
Perhaps that’s why

I love to eat grapes.

12 Mango Stars by Amelie
(Mary MacKillop College, Kensington SA)

Do you know how much I love mangoes?

I love the way mangoes grow on trees.
I love eating mangoes in a breeze.
I also love mangoes when they’re squeezed.

Unripe ones can be very hard.
Those mangoes end up in my pickle jar.
But every mango is a star!

Have I mentioned how much I love mangoes?

Here are three Haku poems by students from Mary MacKillop College, Kensington SA.

Have you ever heard of a cumquat? It’s orange’s tiny cousin!

10 Cumquats and Wotnots by Diane Finlay

Did you ever
tango with a mango
or mince with a quince
peel a lychee by the sea
or kiss a ‘blue’ berry?

Can you really
make rhymes with limes
or mix melons with lemons
blow GIANT raspberries
or get stuck in a strawberry jam?

Did you ever
scare a pear
or grapple with an apple
watch peaches on beaches
or discover plums have bums?

Can you really
tie cumquats with wotnots
feed grapes to apes
put a pawpaw on a seesaw
or be mean to a nectarine?

Did you ever
can-can with a rambutan
see grapefruits in suits
take kiwis to Fiji
or wonder why this rhyme began?

9 Apples by Toni Newell

‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away,’
Is a saying heard over the years,
But is there any truth to this?
Or just a slogan of profiteers?
Apples are beneficial,
Low cholesterol, sodium and fat,
However, eating them in excess,
May damage tooth enamel in fact.
Apples are acidic,
But are rich in vitamin C,
Also contain lots of fibre,
plus pectin, vitamins A and B.
Like anything else, another saying,
‘Everything in moderation,’
Follow this saying and you will see,
The benefits of your gustation.

There are good and not-so-good vegetable smells …

8 Notorious asparagus by Celia Berrell

Notorious asparagus.
A vegetable that’s good for us,
is packed with healthy vitamins
for energy and body cleanse.

Yet infamous asparagus,
you sometimes make a fool of us.
Your spear-like shoots, a delicacy
when eaten, give us smelly pee.

Asparagusic acid means
our urine smells a queasy green.
But fructans (carbs) within these plants
help do away with stinky farts!

7 The Versatile Potato by Toni Newell

Potato is a favourite,
Can be cooked in many ways,
Roasted, boiled or mashed,
Baked in foil, in stews or braised.
My favourite is the chip,
French fries, wedges, straight,
Potato gems, potato cakes,
All worthy of the dinner plate.

Chips that come in packets,
Just to name a few,
Chilli, chicken, salt and vinegar
In different shapes and sizes too.
Such a versatile root vegetable.
20% starch, 80% water,
Contains antioxidants, vitamins B6 and C,
Magnesium, potassium and fiber.

Potatoes when they’re harvested,
Are alive, then in a dormant state,
They can be used to reproduce,
Which in itself is great.
Between 80 and 100 days,
A crop should be mature,
Can even be grown in a bucket,
Which is a great idea I’m sure!

6 Pungent Garlic by Sukarma Thareja & Celia Berrell

My cousin is an onion!
I’m allium sativum.

My whitish bulb’s
found underground,
between the stem
and roots you’ve found,
growing segment cloves within
containing lots of allicin.

Some properties of allicin
even work like penicillin,
warding off some illness guys
like E coli and some fungi.

My sulphur compounds
you’ll know well
from garlic’s pungent
taste and smell!

5 When is a Fruit a Fruit? by Toni Newell

Did you know that cucumbers,
and tomatoes are a fruit?
For they internally house,
the seeds from which they shoot.

We think of them as vegetables.
Their position on the shelves
with eggplants and zucchinis,
all being a fruits themselves.

It’s sometimes our perception,
the way some fruits are served,
mistakes them for a vegetable,
when hot, not raw/preserved.

Often it seems obvious,
an apple, orange, pear,
watermelon, cantaloupe,
all fruits which we can share.

It can get complicated,
by botanical classification.
Just observe what’s being served,
and gain an appreciation.

Three thousand years ago, celery seeds appear to have been used to make ointments and other medicines. Back then, this wild herb from the parsley family was stringy and bitter. But by the 17th Century, tastier versions were being cultivated.

4 Celery (Acrostic) by Barbara Smith

Crunchy fresh
Emerald pale stalks
Lightly fragranced
Each juicy mouthful a
Ready-made meal
Your very favourite.

Can we tempt you with a Carrot? As well as being a taproot vegetable, we use the word carrot (and the phrase carrot on a stick) to mean tempting or persuading someone to do something for a reward that’s just out of reach!

3 Healthy Orange Carrots (Pantoum) by Toni Newell

Carrots grow under the ground,
Now yellow, white and purple seen,
Their fernlike leaves above are found,
They are high in beta-carotene,

Now yellow, white and purple seen.
Carrots contain lots of fiber,
They are high in beta-carotene,
They are an illness fighter.

Carrots contain lots of fiber,
May be eaten cooked or raw,
They are an illness fighter,
Roasted, boiled or in coleslaw.

May be eaten cooked or raw,
Their downside? Hardly any!
Roasted, boiled or in coleslaw,
Their benefits are many.

2 Carotene Carrot by Jeanie Axton

There stood a carrot
on my plate.
It looked up at me
and said “Please wait”

before you take
your very first bite
Can I mention
I help your sight?

My carotene,
a nice bright colour,
will make you strong
like no other.

Vitamins and fibre
I’ll give to you,
so pick me up
and start to chew.

Consider the goodness
I contain.
Come back and eat me
again and again!

Sunflowers are loved for their fabulous flowers, sustaining seeds & oil and their amazing ability to face the direction of the Sun.

1 Sunflowers by Sukarma Thareja & Celia Berrell

Look to the east
to greet the dawn,
then face the west
when twilight’s drawn.

Youthful blossoms,
left to right,
follow the Sun
from dawn to night.

Lopsided growth
on night-time stems
then turns their faces
east again.

Heliotropic flowers
when young,
move their faces
to follow the Sun.

Category: Your Science Poems

Posted on Thursday, July 1st, 2021 at 11:00 am.

Ice Flowers & Dr Jim Carter

Do you live somewhere that’s really cold in winter? Dr James R Carter is Professor Emeritus, Geography-Geology Department, Illinois State University. He studies beautiful ice formations in USA. In 2017, he gave us permission to share some of his rare photos to accompany a poem about Ice Flowers, written by primary school student Evie – which was also shared on the Australian Children’s Poetry website.

We are delighted to learn that Dr Jim Carter has now written his own poem, inspired by Dr Seuss! If you have any fantastic photos of ice flowers of this nature, you can contact Dr Carter at Illinois State University by email at jrcarter@ilstu.edu.

Ice Poetry by Jim Carter

Oh, it’s mighty cold today.
Why did the Lord make it this way?

Hmmmm, the ground crunches when I walk by
So I bend down to find out why.

Look at those needles shining so bright
Clear ice, glistening in the light.

But my nose reminds me what I must do
Dress right for a cold sky so blue.

Properly attired, I set out to see
What other forms of ice there may be.

Are those white flowers at the base of a little tree?

No, it’s ice on the stems of plants quite tall.
They had white flowers last fall.

Wow, that ice presents a lovely face
And it’s only one of many in this place.

A wavy ball of ice nestled in brown.
Camera out, I kneel on the ground.

How have I missed such ice for years?
As I marvel my eyes produce tears.

Perhaps from their beauty
… but probably from the cold.

Oh, there’s ice on what was a puddle.

In layers of perhaps two or three
With leaves underneath and some lying free.

Another presentation of ice seldom seen
Gosh, nature is neat, even when it’s not green!

Category: Blog, Your Science Poems

Posted on Wednesday, June 9th, 2021 at 1:25 pm.

Origins of the Future

The above picture is a working drawing for a painting by Sharon Davson and it is a catalyst to some amazing things.

Sharon started the full-sized oil painting back in 1985, but stopped about half-way through. Inspired by this drawing, I wrote the Science Rhyme Mother of Invention which is displayed on the Environmental Poetry page, here on the Science Rhymes website.

In 2013 Mother of Invention was published in the Canadian school textbook NELSON ENGLISH 10 (see image below).

Fast forward to 2021 and that planned oil painting is still very – unfinished! Along with another unfinished artwork by Davson. The record sale of these two unfinished paintings is setting a new precedence within the art world.

As author, I will be honoured to recite Mother of Invention at an event being held at Parliament House Brisbane on Tuesday 18^th May at 10.30am to celebrate this event. Does this mean the painting will never be finished?

Davson’s image for Origins of the Future was inspired by William Blake’s God-like painting The Ancient Of Days. I imagined a Stone Age man, forging his partnership with science and technology through insatiable curiosity. Neoteny in humans refers to our juvenile traits that endure into adulthood. They include things such as our unstoppable curiosity, desire to play and experiment, plus our incredible adaptability.

Writing the poem Mother of Invention, inspired by Davson’s Origins of the Future, was how my Science Rhymes journey began.

Category: Blog

Posted on Saturday, May 15th, 2021 at 12:55 pm.

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