Physics poetry

This is an idiosyncratic collection of “physics poetry” for students interested in physics.

My definition of “physics poetry” is very loose. It includes almost nothing written by physicists deliberately trying to write poetry.

I showed a slide of “physics poetry” at the end of some of my lectures in Physics 123 Fall 2019 and Fall 2020.

I’ve divided the collection into three parts (click on each to get a pdf file):

• Physics poetry already shown in Physics 123 Fall 2019 and/or 2020.
• Physics poetry I might show in the future, subject to discussion and criticism.
• Physics poetry by Richard P. Feynman I might show in the future, subject to discussion and criticism.

In 2026, my colleague Srivatsan Chakram Sundar showed me some of Chris Henley’s physics haikus.

I received some criticism for showing Feynman poetry back in 2020:

“Feynman is not an ideal physicist to be foregrounding given his documented problematic attitudes and conduct towards women.”

A propos this criticism, you might be interested in reading

• McNeill, Leila, Surely You’re a Creep, Mr. Feynman
• Palus, Shannon, Famed physicist Richard Feynman was an odd genius. Was he also an abuser?

I would be interested in discussion of this criticism of quoting Feynman in a collection of “physics poetry”.

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