I do not know why the word bromide popped into my head this morning, but I followed it anyway…

Bromides and olefins
have nothing in common
as far as I know
except the way they both sound vaguely old
all sepia tones and mildew scent
fine layers of dust on amber-glass bottles
on wooden shelves
in an old, abandoned lab

The scientist left long ago
round wire-rimmed glasses
lying on the coffee-stained pages
of an open notebook
containing formulae
both proven and untested

An old photograph of a young woman
occupies a corner of the desk…

(1 August 2015)