What Am I

...
                                                       What am I?
                                             My filament is very fine
                                          The first was made from wire.
                                       Sir Humphrey Davy thought of me.
                                   He used platinum.  Yes, he was inspired!
                                   My first glow show was in England, 1801.
                                  But I cost so much and my spark was short. 
                                  Very few could or would afford to buy one!
                                  Eight years later, Davy got his patent for an 
                                  arch- lamp, which from charcoal rods gives.
                                  light!  Small. Intense.  Use Caution… parch! 
                                   Wait, there’s more! We must soon applaud
                                    1878 Joseph Wilson Swan's carbon paper
                                       filament light bulb was no mystery.
                                        His British Patented made history.
                                            Meanwhile, back in the U.S.
                                            In 1879 after years of work,
                                                Thomas Edison, whom                                           
                                               I love dearly, invented
                                                  my much adored
                                                      ancestor.  The  
                                                       2,000-hour
                                                      incandescent
                                                       Light bulb!
                                                       I hope you
                                                       Were right.



                                            © Dane Ann Smith-Johnsen
                                                    January 24, 2010

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