HERMANN VON HELMHOLTZ 



STRONG soul, whose calm and almost God-like mien, 



Eyes of unfathomable depth of thought, 



And broad and lofty intellectual brow, 



Betoken force and insight : Shall I try 



To tread the path you followed in the quest 



Of Nature's truth ? To live in your great thoughts 



Is like to breathing a pure atmosphere 



On lofty mountain peak, in azure blue, 



While all around are pure white fields of snow, 



And all below is veiled in cloud and mist. 



And when I find atomic mazy dance, 



The swift-winged lightning, colour's sun-born hues, 



The tones of music and harmonious chords, 



Fine movements and the throb of nervous thrills 



That course so swiftly through this mortal frame, 



The hidden work of wond'rous ear and eye, 



Are all made clear and plain ; then comes the thought 



That He Who made all these did also send 



To this dull earth His own interpreter, 



A great and gifted intellect like thine, 



A child of genius, armed at every point 



For all the glorious work that thou hast done, 



Revealing Nature's plans ; and thou hast shown 



Man's soul is tuned to Nature, and reflects 



All things, as does the surface of a lake 



Reflect the glories of the earth and sky. 



