The Untouchable Elements

14/06/2020 – Iso Well-Being Compilation

 

Never mind that lovely blue glow,

You’d do best to stay well clear

Of the element known as Polonium –

It is one you should definitely fear.

It may not penetrate your skin

But can kill you just the same,

You might ingest this little nasty

Never knowing from whence it came.

A single gram of this deadly element

Could kill 10 million people or so

But you’re unlikely to come across it

Unless you have a government agent as a foe.

 

For those of you who are old enough

Mercury thermometers to recall

You will also remember the danger

Should one accidently fall.

              Able to be absorbed through skin

              Damaging organ after vital organ

Its effects are simply staggering

              And before too long you’re done.

But just as horrifyingly dangerous

Is consuming organic mercury,

Poisoning yourself without knowing

Because the element, you can’t see.

 

In Victorian times, the poison of choice

Left the victim smelling somewhat of garlic

But trying it now would have you caught easily

And the law thinking you were a bit thick.

              The greatest danger to humans today

              Is from contaminated drinking sources

              Where wells are drilled into aquifers

              That have arsenic-rich water courses.

The death from this baddy is slow,

With low doses having a cumulative effect,

And cancer being a health risk,

Groundwater should always be checked.

 

There are lots very safe elements

But Francium is not one of those

And being an alkali metal

You should keep it far from a hose.

              Its radioactivity makes it a hazard

              But It’s reaction to water’s a blast

              Just like it’s little friend Cesium

              But it’s energy more violently cast.

Luckily, it’s incredibly rare,

And you’d not want to hold it in your bare hand

Because it would react with the water therein,

Making a hospital much in demand.

 

Of course, there are many more elements

Which I could have added to this very short list

But these are, perhaps, my favourites

And I’ll not have my list dissed.

              If you’re dangerous element of choice

              Has been omitted from this page

              I recommend you write your own poem

              And let your creativity out of its cage.

But be wary, my friend, when you write

Not to be so very hands on

With the elements you choose for discussion

Lest you don’t finish before you are gone.