Winner of Einstein Poem Contest

The British Association for the Advancement of Science (the BA) invited authors, experts and the public to celebrate national science week and Einstein year by writing a poem based around Einstein's work. Here's the winner of the adult prize by Gordon Judge, Sussex:

I Once Saw Einstein on a Train

I once saw Einstein on a train
Which whistled past our station.
"Your clock ticks much too slow," I yelled.
"Ach, nein. That's time dilation,

"I'm travelling near the speed of light
(A trick I've learned to master).
To me, your clock goes much too quick -
You're getting older, faster!"

Herr Einstein wasn't looking well,
He really looked quite thin.
He must have heard: "Nein, nein," he cried,
And flashed the Einstein grin:

"A metre rule along my train
Is shortened by its speed, too;
That's why I think I haven't changed.
A ruler can't mislead you!

"But even so, I must admit
I find it hard to move.
I have a theory why that is,
Which, one day, I will prove:

"When moving near the speed of light,
You need more energy
To shift a mass from here to there
Than when at rest, you see.

"All matter in the universe,"
The physicist declared,
"Holds energy whose magnitude
Is shown by mc2.

"When I return, I'll stop the train
And you will learn the truth:
I've found the key to time and space,
And to eternal youth!"