periodiku

Tom Kuntzleman

sucH                                                                                                 tiny 
bits Be                                                                   in diamonds, air, water, and lights.
their beats                                                                         broadcast resonant secrets of our existence.
they shake, spin, shimmer, and shine, all while Colorfully serenading us though infinite octaves – injurious, energizing, viBrant, hidden.  
their melody cajoles chaos and creation to climb a spiral staircase, rooted In a primordial and present circle.                      
[they echo within] colliding sTars crying of dense and precious metals born in cradles of gravity and light.
[This is the] last line? or might all their vibrations shake the table of an eight stringed guitar
  ? 

our breath shared with ancient stone, giant sequoias and microscopic sea flora, and in 
Thread to lead supercat to freedom and turtles beneath? what remains hidden within this

The Science

Spoiler alert: I prefer the poem’s structural secret to be uncovered by the reader. The clues are there, so that careful readers will experience several satisfying waves of discovery.

At first glance, this poem appears abstract—drifting across the page in fragments of word and image. But hidden within lies the structure of the periodic table itself. The poem doesn’t just describe the elements—it embodies and celebrates them. Each word and placement reflects the position, and in some cases, the properties of certain atoms. This deeper layer is the poem’s central secret. The word periodic evokes wave-like behavior: repetition, resonance, rhythm. Indeed, much of our knowledge of the elements and their compounds stems from the interplay between light waves and atoms. The poem mirrors these interactions through verbs like shake, spin, shimmer, serenade—capturing dynamic atomic behavior. As with the elements themselves, the poem cuts through a wide swath of science. It alludes to the stellar origins of the elements, referencing the creation of metals in colliding stars. The periodic rhythms described extend from attosecond-scale electronic transitions to geologic flows of gas and stone. 

The layout of the poem directly reflects the structure of the periodic table. Just as the table reveals patterns and periodicity when viewed carefully, so too does the poem reward close attention to its visual arrangement. It is imagined not as a static grid, but as something dynamic—perhaps even an instrument, tuned to reveal more with each pass.

The Poet

Tom Kuntzleman (he/him) has taught science and chemistry for over 30 years, inspiring students with his passion for the subject. He is currently a faculty member at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, USA. Tom combines deep expertise with engaging science communication across multiple platforms. Through his popular YouTube channel, Tommy Technetium, he shares captivating chemistry demonstrations and educational content with a broad audience. His work bridges formal education and digital outreach, bringing the wonders of the periodic table and the science behind it to learners of all ages.

Next poem: Solar Dance by Tricia Steele