Scandium
Janet Kuypers
from the “ Periodic Table of Poetry” series — #021, Sc
You have been so rare to me.
I’ve wanted to know you,
I’ve wanted to see you,
but you’re more common in the sun
than you are right here,
and the only way you’re made
is in the explosion of supernovae.
The scant amounts of you
the entire world knew
were once used in Russia,
prepping for cold war battle.
And you may be strong,
you may give us strength,
but your more violent strengths
come from your creation,
in a burst of radiation
that outshines the galaxy.
I know you’re more common in our sun,
but the energy in a supernova’s explosion
equals all of the energy our sun ever releases.
That’s where you come from.
And that’s why I’m drawn to you.
That’s why I want to know you.
Besides, even though we beat the USSR,
we’ll hedge our bets
to understand you
for any strengths we can get.