8 Must-Read Science Poems

Poems about science celebrate the wonders of exploration and discovery in the world of knowledge. These verses pay homage to the inquisitive spirit of scientists and the pursuit of understanding the laws of nature.

They marvel at the intricacies of the universe, using evocative language to describe scientific principles and breakthroughs. These poems may delve into the awe-inspiring mysteries of space, the intricate workings of cells, or the delicate balance of ecosystems. Through the lens of poetry, science becomes a source of inspiration.

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"> 81/100

Dear Dr. Frankenstein

by Jericho Brown

‘Dear Dr. Frankenstein’ is a warning against the dangers of scientific and intellectual arrogance told as a letter to the fictional doctor.

Written in the form of a letter to one of fiction's most iconic and defining scientific minds, the poem is clearly concerned with scientific progress and the limits of scientific discovery. Brown implies that scientific knowledge is ultimately futile as we lack the wisdom which ought to accompany it. Finally, he concludes that any scientific discovery is a group effort, even if it is usually associated with a single person.

I, too, know the science of building men

Out of fragments in little light

Where I'll be damned if lightning don't

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"> 72/100

Counting Sheep White Blood Cells

by Sujata Bhatt

‘Counting Sheep White Blood Cells’ by Sujata Bhatt speaks of the joy one can find in mundane, everyday activities and how careful consideration of something doesn’t have to be exhausting or boring.

The meticulous work of the lab technician represents the world of science. Bhatt suggests that science, often seen as clinical and detached, can be a source of deep emotion.

It was like being ordered

to count the stars

and to classify them

by their size, their brightness -

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"> 55/100

Cartoon Physics, part 1

by Nick Flynn

‘Cartoon Physics, part 1’ appears in Nick Flynn’s Some Ether (2000). This poem mocks the humorous concepts of animation that defy real physics and biology.

Flynn briefly touches on science by comparing the fantasy of cartoons to the real scientific laws of the universe. While kids are busy watching cartoons, unaware of concepts like gravity and the expanding universe, Flynn suggests that they will eventually have to learn about the real-world rules. The poem shows the contrast between the fantasy world kids enjoy and the complex world of science.

Children under, say, ten, shouldn't know
that the universe is ever-expanding,
inexorably pushing into the vacuum, galaxies

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How Can You Say That?

by Jean Bleakney

‘How Can You Say That?’ is a humorous and thoughtful rebuttal of belittlement which reflects the struggle of women in the twentieth century.

The poem includes references to scientific concepts, demonstrating the narrator's understanding of them. She uses these references to showcase her intelligence and counter her husband's dismissive comment. This topic underscores the importance of scientific knowledge. It challenges stereotypes about gender and intellectual capability.

I am your wife.

I can name and nurture

twenty-nine hardy geraniums.

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[O sweet spontaneous]

by E.E. Cummings

‘[O sweet spontaneous]’ by E.E. Cummings is a beautiful poem about the earth and humanity’s search for knowledge. The poem uses personification in interesting ways and expresses a universal message.

Science is portrayed in the poem as one of the human endeavors that seeks to probe the earth for answers. Cummings references the scientific attempts to understand the world through analysis and investigation, but ultimately, the earth resists these efforts, quietly continuing its natural cycles without providing the detailed explanations that scientists, philosophers, or religious figures demand.

O sweet spontaneous

earth how often have

the

doting

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Power

by Adrienne Rich

‘Power’ by Adrienne Rich is a memorable poem that focuses on the power of Marie Curie and the impact she made on her field.

Living in the earth-deposits of our history

Today a backhoe divulged out of a crumbling flank of earth

one bottle amber perfect a hundred-year-old

cure for fever or melancholy a tonic

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Sonnet—To Science

by Edgar Allan Poe

‘Sonnet—To Science’ by Edgar Allan Poe contains a speaker’s view on the damage science has done to the arts, particularly the art of poetry.

Science! true daughter of Old Time thou art!

Who alterest all things with thy peering eyes.

Why preyest thou thus upon the poet’s heart,

Vulture, whose wings are dull realities?

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To Madame Curie

by Alice Moore Dunbar-Nelson

Dunbar-Nelson’s ‘To Madame Curie’ praises Curie’s scientific legacy, aspiring to her greatness in combating disease.

Oft have I thrilled at deeds of high emprise,

And yearned to venture into realms unknown,

Thrice blessed she, I deemed, whom God had shown

How to achieve great deeds in woman’s guise.

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8 Must-Read Science Poems

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8 Must-Read Science Poems

by Jericho Brown

by Sujata Bhatt

by Nick Flynn

by Jean Bleakney

by E.E. Cummings

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