Neutrinos have mass! (Nature, 12th July 2001)

Neutrinos have mass
we've just found out.
They're not ghosts like we thought.

I see them as dragonflies.
They must have airy insubstantial wings,
they zip about
changing direction
flashing bright metallic colours,
green-blue, gold, purple,
colours changing as they change state,
intent on the universe.
They all have huge eyes.

For them everything is mostly empty.
Even the neutrino trap we made one summer day
down in the salt-mine,
puts nuclei together
like trees in a broad meadow.
We didn't catch many
we saw their trail a moment
then off they darted,
quicker than a wink.

They are hatched in the suns.
They stream off in swarms
across the endless open plains,
about their own business,
leaving us staring after,
empty-handed,
happy they exist,
glad that we know at last
neutrinos have mass.

-- 
Jo                                              Jo@bluejo.demon.co.uk
                    I kissed a kif at Kefk
*THE KING'S PEACE* out now *THE KING'S NAME* out in November from Tor.
Sample Chapters, Map, Poems, & stuff at http://www.bluejo.demon.co.uk