That’s us, the classic 50’s nuclear family of 2.3 children. I’m the second son from the rock. Notice that even at an early age I’m smiling…but it’s not reaching my eyes. We’re still debating who’s the three-tenths of a child.

For a while, it seemed like a stable isotope
But before too long the nucleus split
The proton trying to share more neutrons
than a stable configuration could afford

and the neutron went off on its own
electrons still in orbit
if somewhat erratically

The proton tried other pairings
quite a few, in fact
finally settling down for a while
before the inevitable decay

The neutron never became a real element again
but neither considered it a half-life
for a neutron needs a proton
like a fission reactor needs  a bicycle

The electrons went their own erratic ways
becoming protons and neutrons
(don’t say it can’t be done)
joining and splitting as these things happen