Herbert Nehrlich - Methane Gas

Their teacher loved his chemistry.
He knew that atoms had to be
prepared to join and thus create
new molecules with unknown fate.

He taught his charges about gas
which is elusive while it has
no truly solid properties,
and that it loved the world of cheese.

Well, Johnny, who had great ambition,
had read about atomic fission
and was, on could describe the lad,
a bit too nerdy, maybe mad.

He always stood and volunteered
and mixed some stuff the teacher feared.
But on the day of the disaster
he built from scratch a methane blaster.

He sat, in front of his own class
to prove the powers of a gas.
Had eaten beans and Sauerkraut,
two items that will want back out.

He had aligned three Bunsen burners
to demonstrate to all the learners
what gaseous explosions do
he yelled 'now watch the flame turn blue! '

And with a roar and then a rattle
a cloud inside prepared for battle.
Now, within seconds, on command
it blew to smithereens his hand.

Was followed by more heavy shells
and absolutely sordid smells.
And, as they say the yawn is catching
all pupils tried, and soon were matching

the foul eruptions near the flames.
Their teacher knew that learning games
can be successful in this life,
he'd proven it with his own wife.

Well, I am very very sorry,
there is an ending to this story
which won't become part of a thesis.
The gas blew all of them to pieces.

Herbert Nehrlich

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/methane-gas/