dVerse Poets – Poetics – Let’s Get Elemental
Sarah at dVerse has invited us to write a poem working with an aspect of the elements of the periodic table in any manner we choose. My choice is Germanium (GE 32) a semiconductor, brittle, and needs another substance to enable it to function fully. incidentally, the word germane is related.
Photo: sciencestruck.com Placing a semiconductor.
“The next major explosion is going to be when genetics and computers come together. I’m talking about an organic computer – about biological substances that can function like a semiconductor.” Alvin Toffler
You’re Only Half In
I want to hold you in my arms
but you’re only half in,
and when I look back
that’s always been so,
You’re so brittle
pretending to be elastic,
and what a stretch that would be,
so germane, apropos a semi,
always needing something,
someone else to prop you,
to enable your true function,
you cannot stand alone
but you’re not fully in.
©Paul Vincent Cannon
Paul, pvcann.com
parallax 
This really works as a metaphor for co-dependent relationships, lol.
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Lol indeed, so many germane possibilities, now I can’t help myself, thank you for highlighting and sharing that VJ
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Lol. Welcome Paul.
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You and I are thinking exactly alike, V.J.!
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Great minds think alike! Many thanks Liz.
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🙂
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Lol
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Well, you’ve gone beyond my basic chemical knowledge here, so thank you for the notes! It’s an excellent poem. The repetition works well, and the use of the element as a metaphor for, what? an unsatisfactory relationship? an unrequiting lover? Like it lot.
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Sarah thank you for the invitation to write on this. I really enjoyed physics and chemistry, which is ironic as I was so bad at maths in general but well in science. So this was a joy and tapped into one my passions. Yes, predominantly a metaphor for an unsatisfactory relationship, but there are other interpretations possible for sure. 🙂
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Beautiful poem
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Thank you for those encouraging words.
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My pleasure 😇
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I completely understand this. That feeling you get when you hug someone, and they are not fully there. Wonderful Paul!
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Thank you so much Linda, it is so good to know the poem can evoke an experience.
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The metaphor works great… and germanium is an element that only finds use in compound
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Yes, I was quite taken with that aspect Bjorn, it just seemed to leap on to the page, thank you for your thoughtful and encouraging words.
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What an interesting connection of germanium to someone with a brittle tendency. Fascinating write!
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Thank you so much Beverly, much appreciated indeed.
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but you’re only half in… A beautiful poem, Paul.
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Thank you so much Amy for sharing those encouraging words.
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Reblogged this on The Reluctant Poet.
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Thanks Charles
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Always my pleasure!
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I absolutely loved the way you have used the prompt and used it in your poem, Paul. Using the word to describe an unfulfilling relationship is just brillain.t
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Thank you for sharing those encouraging words Megha.
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My pleasure
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Such a clever write, Paul and endless possibilities of its application in life.
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Yes, I really wanted it to be broad, I’m so glad it came across that way too Punam.
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It sure did! You are welcome. 🙂
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Very clever use of two meanings
>
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Ah, you picked it.
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