Structural Geology Class Poems and Song Lyrics: Spring 2006
These are structural geology poems and song lyrics written by Structural Geology students during spring break 2005. 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 Friday May 5, 2006. The winner will receive 1) prestige amongst his/her peers and 2) a lovely rock.
Student #1
F - Form in unconsolidated sediments and viscous lava flows
O - Offer a wonderful geometric challenge in 3-D visualization and analysis
L - Linear feature is the hinge
D - Dip and strike can describe the orientation of the axial plane of a fold
S - Shortening can be measured within a fold
Student #2
G-ology Rap
Structural Analysis
How am I gonna handle this?
Break it into three smaller challenges
To make it easier to balance it.
First off
Recognize
and describe
structures and imbibe
measurements of their locations
geometries and orientations
for later interpretations
Second
Interpret deformational
Movements responsible
For example,
Translations, rotations
Distortion and dialations
And Third
Forces must be determined
And stresses must ascertained
When your learnin'
The structural formations
Also, make strength evaluations
Of materials in deformations
These three strategies
Are keys
To help you do a structural analysis with ease
So, please
don't panic
The first objective
Is just descriptive
The rest is just
Kinematic
and dynamic
Pretty soon it will all be automatic
Student #3
Fry Up An Ellipse
In search of the strain ellipse
In a sample of my own,
I look for ooids, search for reduction spots
And yet I have found none.
Out with the pencil!
Out with the paper!
Fry provides the method I need.
I measure the length
And I measure the width.
The center of each deformed clast established,
I know what must be done.
I center my mark and make dots.
I re-center my mark and make dots.
The strain ellipse has been retrieved.
Student #4
Study Guides
Strain is the root of all deformation.
Traction leaves us in two dimensions
Rheology is known always to flow
Undulation/recrystalization : natures lava lamp
Circle all become ellipses
Translation has direction and goes the distance
Uniaxial chills in 3d
Recrystallization makes strain hardened grains happy
Azimuth gives 360 fun
Lengthening the long way
Gravity forces itself on the whole body
Ellipsiods look like zepplins
Oblate vs Prolate
Lost is a common phrase
Oh sweet mercy no more flow equations.
Good food, out teacher brings
Y do we torture ourselves
Student #5
My Favorite Part of Structural Analysis
Structural analysis, it has three parts
To pick a favorite breaks my heart
Descriptive and dynamic are intriguing indeed
But kinematic is what I prefer to read
Translation, rotation, distortion, dilation
Each component makes me feel jubilation
To study motions in each one's aim
Depending on scale and reference frame
Rotation is the change in orientation
While a change in size is dilation
Distortion is the change in shape
And translation means to relocate
Student #6
A Silly Poem about Structure
Stress and Strain can be such a pain,
All the words can drive a person completely insane.
Brittle, Ductile, Plastic, Elastic,
Itıs almost as bad as comparing the Jurassic to the Triassic.
The shear stress of the coupled stress will leave the sheets in a balled up mess.
All this tension makes me wish I had an extension!
Oh well, some day I will be collecting that wonderful pension.
Student #7
Oh slide slip faults, you are so confusing. What caused thee to form?
What moved first, the left side or the right?
How far did you move slide slip fault?
One day I will figure you out slide slip. Until then you will remain a mystery!
Student #8
What is the Earth?
I hear that there is a jelly sandwich under me.
The ground has a soft, gooey layer down there,
That is surrounded by layers that behave strongly.
When plotted on a depth/strength chart with care,
There is rough outline of a Christmas tree.
Others say that the Earth is more of a Crème Brulee.
That the strongest layer is near the top.
An answer to the type of model I wait for night and day.
I want there to be only one model, for this all to stop.
Many models based on heat gradient and water, I say nay!
Student #9
Slipping and sliding
Structure can be exciting
Twinning and kinking
Student #10
Bear With Me (the Structural Song)
(This is Jack Johnson-inspired, so I hope you like barre chords.)
Chords
Gm 7-35333 C7-335353 A#7-113131 F7-131211
(Chord progressions are the same for the second half of the song.)
Moderate pace
Intro: Gm7 C7 Gm7 C7Gm7 C7 GM7 F7
Gm7 C7 A7 F7
I'm taking Structure, baby, and I don't know what to do
Gm7 C7 A7 F7
It's taking up all my time, and now I never see you
Gm7 C7 A7 F7
Thinking all about strain ellipses, and being boudinaged
Gm7 C7 A7 F7
Forgetting about your kisses, and your sweet hazel eyes
Bridge
Gm7 C7
But Please, just bear with me
Gm7 C7
Please, just bear with me
Chorus
A#7 F7 A#7 F7
I've been a little dilated, I've been fully rotated
A#7 F7 A#7 F7
I can see you need some translation, since there's some distorted communication
A#7 F7 A#7 F7
I've been a little dilated, I've been fully rotated
A#7 F7 A#7 F7
And now I need your cooperation, because Structure's just a little complicated
I'm just under a little stress, babe, don't you worry none
I promise when this week's all over, we'll go have some fun
But I keep talking geo jargon, between sips of my beer
And the look on your face is telling me, "Lord, get me outta here"
Repeat Bridge
Repeat Chorus
Outro: A#7 F7A#7 F7 A#7 F7 (fade out)
Thanks for reading and remember to vote!
Voting is closed for this year, but check out what our panel of experts thought!
See poetry from previous years.
2004
2005
Go to structure class page.
Go to Dyanna's main page.