Structural Geology Class Poems and Song Lyrics


These are structural geology poems and song lyrics written by Structural Geology students during spring break 2004. As you can see, our class is quite talented, and the writing samples represent an impressive diversity of styles. The poems and lyrics are given here exactly as submitted by the students, so any "errors" you may see in spelling, grammar, or form are surely not errors, but intentional literary devices used by the authors.

Enjoy the poems. To vote for your favorite, email the professor Dyanna Czeck (dyanna@uwm.edu). State A) which poem or lyric you like best, B) why you liked it, C) your credentials as a judge of structural poetry, and D) whether you would mind your comments (either attributed or anonymous) to appear on the updated website once voting is complete. Voting ends by April 15, 2004. The winner will receive 1) prestige amongst his/her peers and 2) an inexpensive trip to Baraboo with the rest of the class.

Student #1

If you find a stretched belemnite,
and you think the deformation is pretty tight,
if a protractor and ruler are in sight
you can measure the angels and its current height,
oh yes, this is work you'll need to sight
to find the strain ellipse.
Oooh the strain ellipse!
Yes you can find the strain ellipse.
A little bit of math and deductive wits,
And you too can find
the shape of the strain ellipse.
Oh the strain ellipse.
Yes you can find the strain ellipse....
(repeat 10x)

Student #2

Wake up to the strain again
Extension of the hair
Ready to get to class but do not stress
The pure shearing headache isn't worth the time or pressure
Stay homogeneous in class and parallel to the tasks at hand
The final stretch, you are almost done
Go home in the most coaxial manner possible
A deformed TV dinner of sorts is to be consumed
Extension of the covers once more
Only to wake up once again to the strain

Student #3

The Parking Lot
In the parking lot, its not polite to point at defects. You see them everyday, cows and shopping carts, they are almost impure. Perhaps that jerk parked taking up two spots deserves a glare, even the finger, but before you get interstitial on his a$$ remember there is a vacant spot just ahead

Student #4

The Structure Song

The Structure song,
It's not to long,
It's about the use of food in the lab,
Its goes better when there is a kit kat to grab,
The lagrangian milk shake,
Sure does make,
Me want to learn,
And to earn,
A special treat,
For every time we meet,
I love to eat!

Student #5

Up the stress and strain, until the yield strength is obtained.
Elastic energy will then be breached, it's on to plastic until ultimate strength is reached.
Then down the stress will go, to its end when the rupture will blow.
Stress and Strain is at its ends, now there is two they could be friends.

Student #6

        Stress
        Tension
       tRend
     plUnge
elastiC
       sTrain
      dUctile
       bRittle
      shEar

Student #7

Every S Will Have Its Day, or How I Almost Let the Pressure Get To Me!

Oh, how like rocks we are!

Sometimes, a person who's got it all together and doesn't buckle under pressure is considered "as solid as a rock." And, a person having a bad day will sometimes be asked, "Are you feeling stressed? The strain is showing in your face." A rock experiences stress and shows the strain, too!
I'm feeling the force of learning all the "S" structural terms coming at me and it feels like a shear wind trying to blow my feet out from under me, when actually it's shear stress coming at me from an angle. I am determined to be strong and not respond in a heterogeneous manner. I will react gracefully. I will deform homogeneously in a co-axial manner.
Hmm. Shear strain homogeneous deformation may be aided by some homogenized milk. I think I'll go have a glass. A little fluid might help me. Then, I'll go to my boudoir, stretch out on my bed, and try to relax while lying on my comfy mattress beneath a soft comforter. With a cold compress on my head, I'll try not to be like a stiff, rigid boudin and crack from the tension. I will "keep it all together!"

Thank goodness the strain is finite!! Tomorrow is another day!

Student #8

The Four Components of Displacement

Translation
Distortion
Rotation
Dilation
My dog Julio is so ecstatic
to learn about kinematics.
With great detailed structural analysis
his body jumps, turns and twists.

Translation
Distortion
Rotation
Dilation

I asked Julio what is translation.
He walked over to me with elation.
Distortion I asked, is that easy to see?
Julio curled up and said look at me.

Translation
Distortion
Rotation
Dilation

Rotation is easy I do it a lot.
Says Julio all you do is spin in one spot.
Dilation I hear is as easy as pie.
Julio said it's basically just a change in size.

Translation
Distortion
Rotation
Dilation

You make this easy I said
And Julio nodded along
Thanks for the info
And the cool song.

Student #9

Strain Haiku

Of two types of strain,
Elastic and Plastic, come
Brittle and Ductile

Student #10

Structure Haiku:

Rotation, dilation, translation, and distortion
Kinematic analysis for interpretation of deformational movement
Four foundations of all structures

Student #11

A Haiku-------

Compass Measurements
Can Be Quadrant or Azimuth
Measures Strike and Dip

Thanks for reading and remember to vote!

Voting is closed for this year, but check out what our panel of experts thought!

Go to structure class page.
Go to Dyanna's main page.