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Iridescence

"...all that vulgar beauty of iridescence...", "Roosters", by Elizabeth Bishop

"It is used in nature
to recognize organisms
of the same species, choose mates,
confuse and evade predators --
a useful adaptation --
a shimmer of glittering and
changeable colors --
the phenomenon of certain surfaces
that appear to gradually change color
as the angle of view or angle of illumination changes --
(ex: soap bubbles, feathers, butterfly wings,
seashell nacre, as well as certain minerals) --
an inventive optical trick."

Any difference between pearlescent and iridescent?
Pearlescent objects have a luster resembling 
that of mother-of-pearl.  Iridescent objects 
have a lustrous, rainbow-like play of colors 
caused by differential refraction of light waves -- 
as in "the object seems to change color
as you shift your perspective" -- a shimmer 
of glittering and changeable colors -- 
an "inventive optical trick" indeed!

Could there not be some among us, who --
perhaps even if for their own purposes, 
are almost -- almost -- almost truly iridescent?

Copyright © | Year Posted 2022




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Date: 7/17/2022 7:19:00 PM
Very nice verse…thanks for sharing! ROSTI
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Book: Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry