Surface Tension of Dew

Megan Day

Molecules binding,
droplets cling to coarse leaves.
Gravity awaits

the final moment
when tiny streams tumble down
─a steady trickle.

Stillness and silence.
Light refracts within the drops.
Strength on the edge.

Each droplet─a world
of forceful expectation
where tension is form.

The Science

This poem, written as a series of haiku, is inspired by the physics of surface tension in water. Dew drops form when cohesion between water molecules allows them to cling to a leaf despite the constant pull of gravity. At the same time, adhesion anchors them to the leaf surface, creating a delicate balance between opposing forces. Light refracts through each droplet, magnifying its fragile strength, whilst surface tension at the edges gives each drop its distinct spherical form. Eventually, the balance breaks and droplets fall, joining together in a steady trickle. The haiku trace this transformation from stillness to release, showing how invisible molecular forces shape the visible world. In this way, the poem makes tangible the delicate equilibrium of forces at play, embodying both the scientific and metaphorical dimensions of tension.

The Poet

Megan Day is a technology/public health professional, writer, and commercial artist located in the Washington, DC area. Her creative practice explores the intersections between natural phenomena and human perception. Her poetry and art frequently draw inspiration from physics, biology, and the environment. In addition to writing, she creates visual works in mixed media, including watercolour, collage, and texturized acrylic.

*The Author retains all rights to the Work (All Rights Reserved). The Author grants Consilience First Serial Rights and Non-Exclusive Electronic Rights to publish the Work in print and online. Upon publication, all rights immediately revert to the Author.

Next poem: The Atmosphere in Movements by Kari Henry