Beyond the Farthest Mortal Eye Can Scan: Ocean Near The Centre of The Earth’

In the early part of 2014 evidence emerged of the possibility of a vast reservoir of water near the earth’s mantle transition zone  (approx 400 – 650 kilometres deep). Subsequent research seems to be confirming that possibility. To a lay person/armchair-scientist such as myself, that seems quite extraordinary. So this poem celebrates that discovery and further builds the small ‘set’ of poems on this blog with the introductory part of the title ‘Beyond the Farthest Mortal Eye can Scan’. This may be recognized by some as the first line of the second verse of the hymn ‘Angel Voices Ever Singing’ but which can very appropriately be borrowed to celebrate some of the sheer wonders of Creation revealed by contemporary science (and slightly ‘tongue-in-cheek’ the poem borrows the metre of that hymn too - score below). Below the poem, you will find links to the other poems in the ‘Beyond The Farthest’ set .

There is also a link to an article in ‘New Scientist’ earlier this year reporting the discovery.

Beyond the Farthest Mortal Eye Can Scan: Ocean Near The Centre of The Earth’

Deep within our wondrous planet,

near the mantle’s seam,

lies a massive store of water,

pressured massively.

Larger thrice than surface oceans;

lends those seas stability.

Ringwoodite, the rock that hides it

proved its presence in

seismic waves from many earthquakes,

causing earth to ring:

but the readings showed some echoes

curbed through saturated seams.

So our earth again surprises

as we find yet more

of the nature of the planet

deep within its core.

Science makes these revelations -

grounds for wonder, cause for awe.

Other Poems in this sequence
Beyond The Farthest Mortal Eye Can Scan: Brown Dwarf
Beyond The Farthest Mortal Eye Can Scan: DNA
Beyond The Farthest Mortal Eye Can Scan: Pristine Exoplanet
Beyond The Farthest Mortal Eye Can Scan: Pulsar
A ’New Scientist’  article detailing this discovery can be found HERE