Poetry Fishbowl Open!

[ysabetwordsmith]

EDIT: The Poetry Fishbowl is now CLOSED (as of 2 AM, though LJ was down then so I couldn't update).  Thank you all for your enthusiasm.

LiveJournal is fubar today. I have echoed this post over on my Dreamwidth account. Also, if you want a Dreamwidth invite code, I have some; just contact me backchannel or leave a comment on DW

Comments

[stryck]

When I'm trying out new recipes in the kitchen, I usually feel like a mad scientist! What would a mad scientist chef cook up?

Also, why are mad scientists mad? Why do we associate them with airships and not quarks and boson particles? I think quantum science is pretty crazy.

Poem

[ysabetwordsmith]

I combined the idea of mad scientists in the kitchen with aldersprig's prompt (on Dreamwidth) about bunsen burners. The result is "Catering to the Masses," a free-verse poem giving a behind-the-scenes look at a convocation of mad scientists. Because hey, somebody has to do the cooking...

33 lines, Buy It Now = $15

[kelkyag]

That puts me in mind of Janet Chui's Joy of Cooking.

Poem

[ysabetwordsmith]

From this I got "Science on the Chopping Block," which I have posted as today's first freebie.

[siege]

Of course the Omnignostic Polytechnic Automated Marching Band should make an appearance. Zeusaphones on wheels! Truly explosive percussion! Three-dimensional marching patterns thanks to the flying instruments! And a director with lots of arms and lights for show (the controls are all done electronically anyway).

Several rival schools have occasionally attempted to take over the AMB by subverting the control signals, too... but then OmniPoly took over their football teams and professors!

... or something like that?

Sorry, I've had these ideas in my head for quite a while now.

In more webcomical themes

[siege]

"A Miracle of Science" is about a cop who stops people taken over by a memetic virus that causes Mad Science. "Girl Genius" includes variations on the theme of mad scientists trying to stop other mad scientists from causing total mayhem; some even do it with the wellbeing of the people in mind; some are even good guys.

What would your version of a good-guy mad scientist look like? Why would they do it? What are their goals, their themes, their desires be?

And would any good actually come of it?

Poem

[ysabetwordsmith]

From the prompt about the mad science of marching bands, I got the free-verse poem "Nerds of the Vengeance." Ambitions start small ... but they don't always stay that way, especially when people try to thwart them.

69 lines, Buy It Now = $34.50

[thesilentpoet]

general relativity vs. quantum mechanics - "they sleep in the same bed, but never talk"

getting ready for a school science fair in the Monster House

how would one use a spork in a lab?

Igor's view (Frankenstein)

Poem

[ysabetwordsmith]

I loved the phrase "they sleep in the same bed, but never talk" so that became the core image of "Back to Back." This free-verse poem renders various branches of science and mysticism in the metaphor of a dysfunctional family. It is bitter but also a little wacky, like one of those horrible arguments you don't want to listen to but can't walk away from.

26 lines, Buy It Now = $15

Re: Poem

[siege]

I love this idea and sadly, my pockets are giving me quotes for rent. :(

[ellenmillion]

Oranaan seems well on his way to being a mad scientist, and he's always fun to see in action. :)

I like plays on words, so something about an angry scientist would be apt.

Is math a science? Are there mad mathematicians?

[minor_architect]

Are there mad mathematicians?

My immediate thought in answer to this question was YES. Kage's a computer and electrical engineer and they use lots of math. And look how he turned out! :D

Poem

[ysabetwordsmith]

To present the Torn World character Oranaan as a mad scientist, I compared his intellect to the Others. "Anomalies of Mind and Time" is written in free verse.

18 lines, Buy It Now = $10

[kelkyag]

Stoppard's Arcadia has a character who might qualify as a mad mathematician by the end of the story, trying to prove -- with pencil and paper -- that chaos theory beats entropy, and the universe won't end with a whimper.

I'm sure Oranaan's not the only one trying out some really wacky ideas "these days in Torn World". When theories collide?

Poem

[ysabetwordsmith]

the_vulture left an advance prompt about how school bullying could lead to mad science. The result is "Where They're Coming From," a poem about torment and revenge.

71 lines, Buy It Now = $35.50

Re: Poem

[the_vulture]

I'm really interested to see how that turns out. :)

Re: Poem

[ysabetwordsmith]

This poem has been posted, yay!
http://ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com/1646217.html

Re: Poem

[the_vulture]

And what an evocative (and provocative) poem it is!