The komplex plane

The researcher's prayer

Grant, O God, Thy benedictions
On my theory's predictions
Lest the facts, when verified,
Show Thy servant to have lied.

May they make me B.Sc.,
A Ph.D. and then
A D.Sc., and F.R.S.,
A Times Obit. Amen.

O Lord, I pray, forgive me please,
My unsuccessful syntheses,
Thou know'st, of course -- in Thy position --
I'm up against such competition.

Let not the hardened Editor,
With referee to quote,
Cut all my explanation out
And print it as a Note.

• Notes
  • From the Proceedings of the Chemical Society, January 1963, pp 8-10.
  • The Proceedings of the Chemical Society record some of the 128 verses submitted in a competition at Christmas 1962 for quatrains in the style of the Fisherman' Parayer: "God give me strength to catch a fish / So large that even I / When telling of it afterwards / May never need to lie."
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