By Pat Horner
1. the bond is a force that holds atoms together within a molecule. these bonds are electric in nature.
our eyes are drawn
to the sharp ridge
dividing the snow covered
south slope from the
steep dark rock of
the north though omitted
from view the sun
casts a yellow glow
on the blue white
light of the mountain
as our thoughts drift
up the fissures in
ice to the peak
while it rained we
discussed the structure of
our apathy self-righteous and
slouched in the chairs
I confessed frustration with
stillness the rain hammered
against the window shattered
the glass fragments cascaded
into the room even
then we did not
move did not think
to cover the broken
pane stood silent and
watched our blood mix
with water and sink
deep into the carpet
2. electrons reside in shells about the nucleus. stable ions are formed when atoms gain or lose valence electrons in order to have the same number of electrons as the noble gas of the closest atomic number. an atom tends to be stable when its valence shell contains eight electrons. in an ionic bond, electrons are gained or lost to achieve eight electrons in the valence shell.
the sun sets behind
the mountain green and
purple shimmer across the
lake waves roll onto
the rocky shore across
the water silence lurks
through the trees the
blue glows in the
fading light a disruption
in the line of
the hills draws attention
to an angel in
the snow a fossil
pressed by wind against
the limestone I woke
in my clothes on
the floor of a
hotel room even though
you slept the silence
between us awkward later
we stole white towels
and spent the morning
in the pool that
whole summer I never
wanted to leave the
water in those same
clothes I waded out
into the lake a
perch swam into my
pocket and drowned I
thought of bringing it
in but let it
float away not wanting
you to see it
3. a covalent bond consists of an electron pair shared between bonded atoms. though electrons are mutually repulsive bonding occurs because the electrons of one atom are attracted to the nucleus of the other.
we make this journey
with our eyes hold
still on these rocks
and stare out across
the glacier the ice
is unwelcome purple shadows
warn of shifts and
hidden rivers sharp peaks
guard the ice hold
it all in place
protect the cold from
those who might wander
out to test the
uneven strength beneath the
grey sky on a
winter night we walked
to the river I
studied the shape of
the stones beneath the
bridge we talked of
similarity and the snow
fell down between us
in a wall we
stumbled home one on
each side as we
passed an amber street
light I watched your
silhouette and discovered I
was shaking