One of the most versatile substances on Earth,
Why do we always take glass for granted?
A wine bottle, a pickle jar, a cheap vase,
A window pane, all disposable and recyclable.
The main ingredient is common sea shore sand,
Chemically combined with a little soda or potash.
Heat resistant glass - silica - is just pure sand.
For cut glass, add a little lead, for coloured glass, minerals.
Its greatest property is its sheer transparency,
Transparent because it is not crystalline.
It is in fact a paradox - a solid solution!
Consequently it lets light pass clean through it!
Like so many important scientific discoveries,
Penicillin, gravity, stainless steel, purple dye,
The steam engine, polythene and radioactivity,
Glass was discovered by pure accident!
In antiquity, sand and wood ash, combining
In the embers of a fire to produce shing jewels.
Homo Sapiens, sifting the jewels and concluding that they
Must be a fusion of wood ash and sand - discovered GLASS!
(John Knight UK - August 2009) .
A very nice poem.Keep it up.10+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
An interesting and teachable moment/poem 'a Touch of Glass' that's taken for granted.Good read a 10 fore sure
Beautifully written and very well thought out. Educational is every way. I love this poem. ^^
True facts glass the wonder find great poem takes the reader on thru time what would we do without it thanks for the read....++++++++++++10 though mans best find was a woman giving apples away then came class regards uavanice1
Alchemy and history of Glass well presented… May I add ‘Mirror’ which is most usable glass and most favorite...Of Beau and Dame…LOL! And world’s most cherished glass is Mirror… I’ve heard who commits suicide before suicide does not find them on mirror… can any one explain it? Mirrored your poem with smiling TEN… Ms. Nivedita UK
Hi friend, you are a great poet and a great scientist.... this poem is very informative...thanx for giving such a wonderful piece of work
a rich lesson! full of precious information about our dear GLASS. Glass is one of many beautiful materials indeed. you put me in a cristalization time thanks for sharing 10 for the TOUCH.
What a nice poem! You told what things can happen by a touch of glass!
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
''In antiquity, sand and wood ash, combining In the embers of a fire to produce shing jewels. Homo Sapiens, sifting the jewels and concluding that they Must be a fusion of wood ash and sand - discovered GLASS! '' interesting ideas, nice poem.........10