Shelley
(The Birth of Science Fiction)
I.
Young Shelley at Eton imbibed the mystique
Of science romanticized into extremes:
He gave his poor tutor a shock and a shriek
Electric jolt! eliciting screams.
II.
Explosives and fire-balloons were his joy,
Chemicals tainting his fingers and arms,
Steam engine blew-up (another mere toy).
Mad Shelley continually causing alarms
III.
His tutor named Walker is wholly forgot
Blueprint for someone whose name we ve all read
Frankenstein s prototype, likely as not,
Mixed up with Shelley in wife Mary s head.
9-23-91
I.
Young Shelley at Eton imbibed the mystique
Of science romanticized into extremes:
He gave his poor tutor a shock and a shriek
Electric jolt! eliciting screams.
II.
Explosives and fire-balloons were his joy,
Chemicals tainting his fingers and arms,
Steam engine blew-up (another mere toy).
Mad Shelley continually causing alarms
III.
His tutor named Walker is wholly forgot
Blueprint for someone whose name we ve all read
Frankenstein s prototype, likely as not,
Mixed up with Shelley in wife Mary s head.
9-23-91
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