MATERIAL

The word "asphalt"

Comes from Middle English

Which took it from French

Which took it from Late Latin 

Which took it from Greek.

It may mean 

"Not causing to fall."

Experiments show it drips

Like cold molasses.

It is mostly made of polar

And naphthene aromatics;

Saturated hydrocarbons 

Determine its softening point.

It should not be confused 

With coal tar, "a visually similar black, 

Thermoplastic material produced

 By the destructive distillation of coal."

During World War II an ersatz 

And unsatisfactory form of asphalt 

Was made from old memories.