POETRY
Marie Curie Radioactive
A tribute response to paper poetry prompt #6 obstacles or fences
To win the Nobel peace prize in science
once was not enough, twice the first time,
twice the only time for the genius mind.
Overcoming all obstacles
breaking down barriers of
discrimination against women
in the scientific field,
a remarkable fete in the early 20th century.
Warsaw, Poland your city, a clandestine education secured
in the “flying university” hidden from Russia’s iron fist ideology.
Radioactivity scared not this brilliant woman.
Marie shared her first Nobel peace prize in its research
together with husband Piere and colleague Henri Becquerel.
Vilified by the French press and jealous male colleges
after the death of her husband, in her adopted home France
only to be honoured as French when awarded
a second Nobel peace prize for chemistry,
the discovery of Radium and Polonium.
Polonium, named after her beloved Poland.
Marie’s brilliant work coercing reconsideration,
in the foundation of physics, facilitating the study of the atom.
Aiding a million french soldiers during the first world war,
shrapnel now identified with your x-ray machines.
Marie was known for her honesty, living a modest lifestyle,
giving away prize money to studies in the scientific field
patenting not, radium-isolation, allowing research to go unhindered.
“Probably The only person who could not be corrupted by fame” — Albert Einstein.
Eventually, you died, dear Marie as a result of your fieldwork.
We honour you and thank you for overcoming obstacles,
presented to you by nature, and by man.
“Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something, and that this thing, at whatever cost, must be attained.”
— Marie Curie.
Dedicated to you, me Poet friends…
A wee note… Marie was the first person to win or share two Nobel Prizes, and remains alone with Linus Pauling as Nobel laureates in two fields each.
This piece is in response to Connie Song’s Paper Poetry promt#6 “Obstacles or Fences” Thank you very much, Connie, for your prompt.
Read Connie’s prompt challenge in Melissa Bee’s presentation here…
Thank you as always Suntonu Bhadra for giving my words a platform. 🙏 Thank you all for reading and your precious time. Always. J. 🙏
