RPO -- James Clerk Maxwell : In Memory of Edward Wilson, Who Repented of what was in his Mind to Write after Section

James Clerk Maxwell (1831-1879)

In Memory of Edward Wilson, Who Repented of what was in his Mind to Write after Section

Rigid Body (sings).

1Gin a body meet a body

2 Flyin’ through the air,

3Gin a body hit a body,

4 Will it fly? and where?

5Ilka impact has its measure,

6 Ne’er a ane hae I,

7Yet a’ the lads they measure me,

8 Or, at least, they try.

9Gin a body meet a body

10 Altogether free,

11How they travel afterwards

12 We do not always see.

13Ilka problem has its method

14 By analytics high;

15For me, I ken na ane o’ them,

16 But what the waur am I?

Notes

1] [Title]: section: perhaps Section A (Mathematics and Physics), meeting of the British Association.
Maxwell here modifies Robert Burns' poem, "Comin Thro' the Rye".

Online text copyright © 2009, Ian Lancashire (the Department of English) and the University of Toronto.
Published by the Web Development Group, Information Technology Services, University of Toronto Libraries.

Original text: Lewis Campbell, The Life of James Clerk Maxwell, with a selection from his correspondence and occasional writings and a sketch of his contributions to science. London: Macmillan, 1882. QC 16 M4C3 Gerstein Library
First publication date: 1882
RPO poem editor: Ian Lancashire
RP edition: 2001
Recent editing: 1:2002/10/5

Rhyme: ababcdcd

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