A Model Poem
by I. Rothchild, Science Vol. 289, p872, 2000)
What have you got, a theory?
Hypothesis? A strategy?
A peachy-keen analogy?
Rest your brain
With a quiet coddle,
Join the crowd and call it a MODEL!
Do you itch to tell your latest scheme,
Hunch, proposal, process theme,
Idea that boosts your self-esteem,
And your brain can't sprint
But only waddle?
Join the crowd and call it a MODEL!
What's the word, a preparation?
Notion? Plan? Sketch? Creation?
Diagram? An explanation?
But if your brain can only
Crawl or toddle,
Join the crowd and just use MODEL!
Is "Design of an Experiment"
The essence of your mind's intent?
Words like those don't pay the rent!
Why strain the brain
For more than twaddle?
Join the crowd and just use MODEL!
Protocol? System? Prototype?
The word that's got the mostest hype
To push a thought that's barely ripe?
Don't sweat your
Cliché-loaded noddle!
Join the crowd and just use MODEL!
O, Muse of Science! Muse of each
Kind of lucid, sparkling speech!
How far do you think
This prayer will reach?
Bless-d be the day
When even a clod'll
Use his brain instead of MODEL!