The Alchemist

When I was young, I have always been amazed by the old and wizened Alchemist character in the Gummy bear cartoon series. I always imagined myself as an Alchemist, mixing every ostensible chemicals that I can get my hands on in the hope that I can stumble on something precious... Here's an ode to the Alchemist.

Alchemy, an esoteric art accessible to a privileged few
who spend their lives in intellectual solitude pursueing complete knowledge,
some even partake in Mercury's company, drinking wine from His chalice!
With a Midas touch, the Alchemist transforms a speck of dust into a gem
like benevolent Deities giving the breath of Life into a pile of sand.
Godhood status in the sciences of substances being one of their attributes
for they too occupy the very same pantheon with all the Great Philosophers,
their pliant minds an excellent source of counsel in science and humanity,
their words treated with royal reverence like Oracles of the past era!
The Alchemist's reserved personality making him repel the limelight,
meeting one is a rare event like the passing comet in the evening skies,
coming under the tutelage of a Master Alchemist is rarer still,
Master! Where art thou? I urge you to pass on your torch to your willing pupil!

Note: Although Alchemists are associated with pop culture and cartoon fantasies nowadays, soon a select group of biologists will be playing the role of Alchemists. Alchemists are known to be able to transform a substance of little value to one of great value. A number of biologists have successfully bioengineered micro-organisms to do just that. These newly bioengineered micro-organisms can convert a cheap starting raw material into a precious end product, such as fuel or malarial drug (DISCOVER).

Citations
Scientist of the Year. DISCOVER: Science, technology and the future. Dec 2006.