My body has grown weaker many years,
though I continued Pierre's work and mine.
The days are long, yet still I have not time
to do it all, I wipe frustrated tears.
The blood tests show very little there,
I know enough of Greek - aplastic;
its appearance on the slide is drastic
reduction of cells. I must prepare.
The radiation work spares others' lives,
it is good that soldiers' limbs were saved.
The war was horrid, the sights we braved!
A woman learns a lot, if she survives -
and may you learn from this, my death,
the chronic blood disease, the cataracts
from x-radiation, find out how it acts,
the knowledge gained to my last breath.
The men, the professors, cannot know
what rigours I persisted in to find
the secrets of the atom; but my mind
is clouded as my sight, and now I go.
Irene, my daughter, I am proud of you
and Frederic, my brilliant newfound son.
You two outweigh the honours that I won,
it grieves me now to quit my life - adieu.
Author notes
Marie Curie (1867-1934)
http://www.hps.org/publicinformation/ate/q535.html
A contest entry
- #116 Winklings on Wednesdays: Write a poem about women in death by Lyndon.
1500 points, ended September 15, 2008, 10 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Thank you for reading.
Comments
1 - 12 of 12
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Twenty-four lines only.
Madame Curie's story is a sad yet brave one. It is not one of facing immediate death. However, you are continuing the path of others in presenting famous women who sacrificed themselves for good deeds (in this case) or indifferent deeds.
Thank you, poet, for this rhymed entry.
Lyndon.
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Only 24 he says
Thanks for applause Ron.
I appreciate your comment, and I am pleased with the response the poem got.
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This would have to be one of the most elegant poems I have read in a while - I love your vocabulary, and this piece makes the best of it Marie was a brilliant woman, and this dedication is very fitting
I wish you the very best of luck in the contest!
Keep writing
Polly
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Thank you for your comment and applause, Polly. I tried to place myself with Marie at her deathbed; I'm happy you found it affecting.
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I have thought much about Marie.
She was a real pioneer and a wonderful woman. You have written well about her and brought her to life in your poem. I only knew the facts, but now I can read the emotion, thanks to your poem.
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Thank you Richard, your comment is kind and I appreciate your thoughts.
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She lived a dedicated life indeed, her name symbolic with greatness in the history of research. This is a worthy tribute and written as if from the lady herself.
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Thanks Malmadre!
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Hello Margaret, this is some poem that you have penned here, may I wish you well in the contest, I know we will be among worthy apponenents. Well done. Val
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Thank you Val, I'm happy you liked this.
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Ah, Margaret, you have captured
this determined woman, even in her weakness,
as she valiantly pursued her cause.
You give her words, so we hear her voice,
as she validates her choice.
This is dramatic, poetic, living history!
Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!
Aesthete
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Thank you for your comment and applause, M-C. I could not picture Marie regretting her choice to research radiation, when in her own lifetime, there were already good things done with it. They found her radioactive fingerprints on her laboratory books. Her death did turn out to be as instructive as her life.
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