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Poems Prove Chemistry Rocks

Feb. 1, 2018

It’s no secret that I’m sometimes slow to catch up on press releases in my email inbox. True to form, I just got around to checking out the winners of the 2017 National Chemistry Week (NCW) Illustrated Poem Contest. As part of NCW each year, the American Chemical Society sponsors an illustrated poem contest for K-12 students. Last year's theme was “Chemistry Rocks!”

Winning Poem

Anika Khedekar, a 4th grader at Village School in Princeton, N.J., penned and illustrated this award-winning poem.

All poems could be no more than 40 words. Students could pick their own style from this list: Haiku, Limerick, Ode, ABC poem, Free verse, End rhyme, Blank verse.

There were four categories based on age. Each category named a first- and second-place winner. My favorite was from Anika Khedekar, a 4th grader at Village School in Princeton, N.J.

Here’s her poem:
Quartz (SiO₂) Based Geodes
I’m round, gray and come in different sizes
Inside of me is a cavity of surprises
Mineral deposits are made over the years
Turning into crystals that everyone reveres
Mostly of Quartz with different hues
I’m a geode! Woo-hoo!!!

You can check out the other winners’ work here.

Traci Purdum is Chemical Processing’s senior digital editor. She loves geodes, poetry and shouting “woo-hoo” when the spirit moves her. You can email her at [email protected].