A lightbulb conjures Edison
but shines on another,
relevant
in the war of currents, (1)
that another player sparked -
vastly intelligent.
It would be the world's fate
to have its current alternate,
and, too, Tesla spared the elephant. (2)
(1) In the "War of the Currents" in the late 1880s and early 1890s, surrounding the introduction of competing electric power transmission systems, Thomas Edison promoted Direct Current (DC), and Nikola Tesla promoted Alternating Current (AC), which is now the standard for power grids around the world.
(2) Per Wikipedia, "In popular culture, Topsy [the elephant] is often portrayed as being electrocuted in a public demonstration organized by Thomas Edison during the war of the currents to show the dangers of alternating current." However, it goes on to reveal a more complex (but just as horrible) truth.
Alternating Current
A very bad alternating current who
ill-treats me with
zaps has a
great aptitude for
math.
"I shall be like a tree planted by the river ... " Psalm 1:3
A child born during thunderstorm that
Braved thunder lightning, grew up but
Could not cope brother Dane’s death
Depression, fear took an ugly turn
Even as comforted by his calm-
Father, a revered church priest who
Gave his child - 6yr old Nikola all the wanted love,
Handed him the precious Bible and
Inspired him with stories of Lord that
Just made boy Nikola learn and
Know the Bible by heart. Nikola
Learned Czech, Serbo-Croatian from
Mother who taught him patience -
Nurturing talent, creativity and
One of a kind eidetic memory
Procuring him scientific spirit and
Quest for wisdom that became a
Rage making Nikola never once
Stop in his storming life or
Tire from the hardships that
Unfolded at his each step of success
Veracity stood by Nikola Tesla who
Worked frantically for 20 hours a day
Xper who found use of alternating current
Yearned for peace in war torn world
Zap was life of such an illustrious man.
“‘Tis elementary my dear boy,” said the unclipped fuzzy lips,
Whose bristles were littered with the debris of remnant chips.
Whatever before the professor had said was forever lost in time,
For the boy had as much the capacity to focus as does a lime.
“Of course, professor,” the boy barfed back in nauseated routine,
As he wished he remembered to take his daily salts of amphetamine.
“Alright then, boy-oh, off you go,” said the somehow contented instructor,
Who believed the boy now understood alternating current conductors.
All the boy had understood was the fantasy in his head of space,
Featuring a creature crawling upon his professor’s ungroomed face.
He imagined a caterpillar on an epic insect adventure,
To colonize his professor’s mouth as a chrysalis in his dentures.