To John Schwarz

Thirty years ago or more

John saw what physics had in store.

He had a vision of a string

And focused on that one big thing.

But then in nineteen-seven-three

Most physicists had to agree

That hadrons blasted to debris

Were well described by QCD.

The string, it seemed, by then was dead.

But John said: "It's space-time instead!

The string can be revived again.

Give masses twenty powers of ten!"

Then Dr. Green and Dr. Black,

Writing papers by the stack,

Made One, Two-A, and Two-B glisten.

Why is it none of us would listen?

We said, "Who cares if super tricks

Bring D to ten from twenty-six?

Your theory must have fatal flaws.

Anomalies will doom your cause."

If you weren't there you couldn't know

The impact of that mightly blow:

"The Green-Schwarz theory could be true ---

It works for S-O-thirty-two!"

Then strings of course became the rage

And young folks of a certain age

Could not resist their siren call:

One theory that explains it all.

Because he never would give in,

Pursued his dream with discipline,

John Schwarz has been a hero to me.

So please, don't spell it with a "t"!

                            John Preskill

                            November 3, 2001