Wordsworth

This week’s challenge was to create a new chemical element and describe its properties.

John Edgar, Christchurch: Winstonite: a silver-grey substance, reactive and volatile when exposed to oxygen.

Joe Lee, Palmerston North: Scomoron: one of the fundamentalist elements, no scientific proof it exists.

Lyn Toka, Cambridge: Yorkandrium: a thick, dry element, purple in its natural state, tarnishes quickly on exposure to air. Cf. Fergium: of similar composition, orange in colour, no apparent practical use.

Peter Kreft, Johnsonville: Ambitium: considered an essential trace element, although deficiencies are widely observed, commonly found in the reactive compound ambitium corporatide.

Kerry Mawhinney, Invercargill: Clausalite: bright red in colour, it is widely used towards the end of the year to extract good behaviour from children. Varying results.

Vi McIntosh, Blenheim: Brexitodium: highly volatile, flammable gas, experts are concerned over the instability manifested.

Keith Davidson, Blenheim: Briscon: cheap, abundant substance sold at discount rates.

Michele Bones, Cambridge:

Corbanite: an old red compound, toxic when mixed, best relegated to back of cabinet.

Hans Zindel, Palmerston North: AllBlacksion: a dependable and stable substance with recent decay.

But New Plymouth’s John Warner is this week’s winner: Shewillberite: found in abundance in Aotearoa, high levels in humans encourage relaxed attitudes.

For the next contest, make a new verse for a popular Christmas song. It can be based on Christmas, current events or any topic of your choosing. Entries, for the prize below, close at noon on Thursday, January 2, 2020.

Submissions: wordsworth@listener.co.nz or Wordsworth, NZ Listener, Private Bag 92512, Wellesley St, Auckland 1141. Please include your address. Entries may be edited for sense or space reasons.