How do I assess thee? Let me count the ways

How do I assess thee? Let me count the ways.

I measure thy depth and breadth and height,

The microscope can reach, those aspects out of sight

Using bright-field and contrast of phase.

I measure to the level of my instrumental ways,

And analytical precision, by plain and cross polarised light.

I count thy inclusions, assessed by eye outright,

I count thy voids, where organics have decayed,

I measure thy referred and related distribution,

Thy particle sorting, if wind or water laid.

I measure all facets of your constitution,

Each of the many layers that amassed.

Revealed, through careful attribution

The hidden secrets of the past.