The Night Before Fieldwork

Notice that my entire carry

on is filled with supplies

and no tunimportant things,

like clothes

Twas the night before fieldwork, in the laboratory

The instruments were silent, and the cabinets were empty

The boat was all full of our vials and bottles

In to hope that soon they’d be filled with some samples

The postdocs were nestled all snug in their beds

While Science and Nature dreams danced in their heads

The grad students tossed and turned full of fear

Worries of protocols, reagents and gear

When from my computer arose a small “ding”

Pulled me out from the bed to check the damn thing

Straight to my laptop I flew in a beat

And opened my emails, still groggy with sleep

The light from the screen casting glare in my eyes

I squinted to read the new subject lines

When what, to my sleep deprived mind should I read

A new CC:all from the investigative lead

With a few paragraphs so short and precise

I knew that I’d get no more sleep on this night

The plan has all changed and the currents have twisted

The cruise track is going to need to be shifted

The chlorophyll, the nutrients and the phytoplankton

Still need to be taken, no matter the stations

My work won’t change much, but I still read the replies

The debates by PIs on what plan to go by

Finally the chief scientist decides on her plans

The researchers show up, with bags in their hands

The boat will depart soon, the science will start

We’ll produce new data, graphs, and some charts

But now my procrastinating must end

The packing for my own trip has got to begin

I have all the tools, and know their appliance

It’s time to get going, I need to do science!

-Modified from "The Night Before Christmas", Clement Clark Moore, 1822