This is Throwback Thursday #71.  In these, we look back into the past at ESCONI specifically and Earth Science in general.  If you have any contributions, (science, pictures, stories, etc …), please send them to esconi.info@gmail.com.  Thanks!

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Today, we have the poem entitled “The Title of the Picture Sentimental” from the November 1968 edition of the ESCONI newsletter.  This poem was written by Walter Dabasinkas, who was an old time Mazon Creek collector.  Between he and his wife, they have no less than five Mazon Creek animals named for them – two are sharks and three are insects… it goes without saying that this is amazing!  Maybe change that to hardcore collector!

• Dabascanthus inskasi, Walter Dabasinskas, a shark
• Eubrodia dabasinskasi, Walter Dabasinskas, an insect
• Homaloneura dabasinskasi, Walter Dabasinskas, an insect
• Neofouquea suzanneae, Suzanne Dabasinskas, an insect
• Similihariotta dabasinskasi, Walter Dabasinskas, a shark

This poem also appeared in the “Pick and Dop Stick”, which is the newsletter of the Chicago Rocks and Mineral Society.  Chicago Rocks is alive and well.  They have been a club since 1946.

THE TITLE OF THE PICTURE “SENTIMENTAL” 
      by Walter Dabasinskas

By Nature painted. on this rock,
      two hundred and fifty million years ago,
This painting tells me a little story:
      I was alive,
      two hundred and fifty million years ago!

Mother Nature was very proud of me.
As I grew a little older,
She decided to preserve me for a little while
and I was kept in hiding, for
      two hundred and fifty million years.

Finally she decided to take me out of hiding,
So that I might be seen again for a little while.

I was beautiful when I was alive.
I am beautifully preserved.
Eventually I must come to an end,
      and make room for more beautiful things,
Which Mother Nature is going to create.

                                                    Pick and Dop Stick