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I'M Traveling Light

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Image result for photon

I have a flash for you ...

Think you can hang with me??
I doubt it ... I keep a pretty quick pace, if you know what I mean!
I may be very small, but I'm pretty special ...
Just the knowledge of my existence

Has led to amazing things!
Things like lasers, Bose–Einstein condensation, Quantum field theory,
And the probabilistic interpretation of quantum mechanics ...
I'm a very particular particle, you see!

A very elementary particle ...
The quantum of the electromagnetic field,
Electromagnetic radiation such as light,
And the force carrier for the electromagnetic force!

I am as fast as fast can be,
Traveling at the speed of light in a vacuum,
Even though I have no rest mass at all!
I am also special in that I can exhibit the properties of a WAVE, too!

I can be refracted by a lens and exhibit wave interference with myself,
And I can behave as a particle,
With definite and finite measurable position and momentum!
I've been applied to photochemistry ...

I've been used for high-resolution microscopy ...
I've even been utilized for measurements of molecular distances!
Recently, I've been studied as an element of quantum computers,
And for applications in optical imaging and optical communication,

(Like quantum cryptography) ...
Too fast and far too tiny to hold, so I doubt you can keep up!
But, oh, am I important!
Einstein knew how important I was,

Even when people told him I didn't exist ...
He KNEW, and persisted!
Oh, you should see what I'm doing at CERN!
You will, you will ...

And it will blow your mind!
You see, I'm traveling light ...
And I'm very, very bright ...
But you can call me ...

PHOTON!



** EIGHTH PLACE in the "Traveling Light" Poetry Contest, Kai Michael Neumann, Sponsor. **

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Kai Michael Neumann

Date: 10/18/2017 5:41:00 AM

This is so clever and well done. I like your take on the theme. Congratulations and thank you for taking part in my contest. Many wishes, Kai

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 10/18/2017 4:42:00 PM

Thank you so much, Kai, I so greatly appreciate it, and I'm honored by the recognition. Blessings, Friend.

Roy Pett

Date: 10/17/2017 7:19:00 AM

I enjoyed reading this very clever write Gregory, light to most of us is taken for granted we don't realise the importance of this necessity, pleased that Einstein's theory has at last been proven, great write. :))

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 10/17/2017 9:23:00 PM

Thanks, Roy, this one was a bit different, and I wanted to go even further with it, but worried I might lose people if it was any longer. Blessings, friends! :-)

Darlene De Beaulieu

Date: 10/16/2017 6:26:00 PM

yes you are travelling light. I do likme this poem you write. it is a cute write. Have a nice evening my friend.

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 10/16/2017 7:14:00 PM

Thank you so much, Darlene - I'm so pleased you liked it - it was a lot of fun to write! Such a nice comment - you are incroyable! :-)

Agnes Krampe

Date: 10/16/2017 1:05:00 PM

That's a fun poem, Gregory! I enjoyed your portrait of the photon. Congrats on your placement.

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 10/16/2017 2:34:00 PM

Thank you very much, Agnes ... I greatly appreciate your kind comments! :-)

Susan Ashley

Date: 10/14/2017 8:49:00 AM

Such a creative and dynamic write Gregory. 'I am a very particular particle, you see' - such beautiful poetic expression. A brilliant and masterfully written poem. Enjoyed. Congratulations on your win!

Susan Ashley
Date: 10/14/2017 11:01:00 AM

Lol! Smile and giggles for the good bad pun Gregory! :)

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 10/14/2017 9:21:00 AM

Thank you so much, Susan, I wasn't sure how this would go over, but it seems a few people took a "shine" to it anyway! (Sorry - I love bad puns, lol, couldn't resist!). Blessings and thanks, my friend! :-)

John Hamilton

Date: 10/13/2017 12:27:00 PM

Neil Degrasse Tyson has a book called astro-physics for people in a hurry, I think I'll pick it up, because I obviously don't know enough of this stuff, and it is important, glad Kai was the judge and not me, shows there is more to you Greg than lost love poems, congrats on placing in this tough contest!

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 10/14/2017 9:20:00 AM

Neil is a great writer and Astrophysicist, and he has a talent, (much like Hawking), for making complex theories and concepts, "understandable" to us regular folks - I highly recommend any of his books for videos, John. I almost went into Astrophysics, (and almost became a surgeon), so I find great joy in the sciences, (sports, too!). Too many likes, not enough time! Thanks again, Brother! :-)

Russell Sivey

Date: 10/4/2017 6:42:00 AM

This is a fun write my friend! I enjoyed this creative and tremendously well written poem this morning! I love the photon, it is a great subject to write about, but complicated to get across! You did an excellent job at doing so! Don't forget the quarks! What a BRILLIANT piece, Great Work!!

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 10/5/2017 4:31:00 AM

Thank you so much, my dear friend - yes, I may do one on subatomic particles like quarks, neutrinos, and the like ... this was certainly fun, but I could have taken it further, (and maybe should have?). I wanted it to make some sense, though ... blessings, Buddy! :-)