Acetylene of Heaven

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Kenneth2816
Posts: 1619
Joined: 01 Jun 2008, 09:17

Acetylene of Heaven

#1 Post by Kenneth2816 » 10 Mar 2021, 14:13

The great minds of Manhattan Project,
over cocktails at Berkeley
concluded the heat from a nuclear

test would cause a fusion reaction,
igniting the atmosphere as if to
roast God like a fat marshmallow.

Oppenheimer, Bethe and Teller
argued all night until the great ball
of the sun broke, and they refigured.

BobBradshaw
Posts: 2683
Joined: 03 Jun 2016, 21:03

Re: Acetylene of Heaven

#2 Post by BobBradshaw » 11 Mar 2021, 01:58

Intriguing subject. The poem feels like a starting point...expand on their work, and results. There are so many different narrators, perspectives to choose from...

Kenneth2816
Posts: 1619
Joined: 01 Jun 2008, 09:17

Re: Acetylene of Heaven

#3 Post by Kenneth2816 » 11 Mar 2021, 02:39

Thanks Bob. Making an interesting poem from an historical event may be beyond my ability.

BobBradshaw
Posts: 2683
Joined: 03 Jun 2016, 21:03

Re: Acetylene of Heaven

#4 Post by BobBradshaw » 11 Mar 2021, 08:57

That’s not true.... you’re being too modest. Look at “Radium Girls”, your poem of Cuba, “Poem in Exile...” or your poem I just read “The Wound Dresser”. I love “Poem in Exile...”. I wish you would write more Cuba poems.

Michael (MV)
Posts: 2154
Joined: 18 Apr 2005, 04:57

Re: Acetylene of Heaven

#5 Post by Michael (MV) » 11 Mar 2021, 10:28

Hi Ken,

Do you remember C.E.Chaffin from MELIC Review? He asserted a literary theory, I have found in general to be trustworthy: If the title, first line and finale are there - if this essential triad exists - then the body of the poem will fill out, write itself.

"Acetylene of Heaven
The great minds of Manhattan Project,
argued all night until the great ball
of the sun broke, and they refigured."

I read that here. And find the poem complete.


2 workshop shares:

1/ "roast God like a fat marshmallow."

as

roast God like a celestial marshmallow.

2/ and reconfigure for "refigure"


😎

Michael (MV)

Kenneth2816
Posts: 1619
Joined: 01 Jun 2008, 09:17

Re: Acetylene of Heaven

#6 Post by Kenneth2816 » 11 Mar 2021, 12:27

CE Chaffin was mad.

Kenneth2816
Posts: 1619
Joined: 01 Jun 2008, 09:17

Re: Acetylene of Heaven

#7 Post by Kenneth2816 » 11 Mar 2021, 12:34

Thank you Bob. As I recall, you nominated both those poems and they both placed first.

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