In a Country, Far, Far Away

Beguile me, Kepler

22B, with balmy

climes and swaying palms.

Alchemy Pyrotechnica

When creating blue

stars, the known pyrotechnics

may turn perilous.

Failure and danger

lurk within: too quick, too hot,

too cool; worst: a dud.

Pure ingredients

produce the immaculate

perception desired.

Compounds must behave

reliably and, once lit,

burn true to color.

Fuels, emitters, and

oxidizers combined must

be stable when stored.

Strong and easily

excited, sodium spoils

the colors in fire.

Blue emitters – too

reactive – can’t wait in a

pellet beforehand.

Emitters must be

compounded, then displayed, while

exploding skyward.

Balanced fuels, none too

bright, must elevate blue stars’

fragile emitters.

For brilliance, pine root

pitch, gums, or rosins may burn

with too cool a fire.

Metallic fuels tempt

fireworkers; incandescence

overshines colors.

Only the adept

pyromancer should attempt

this difficult hue.