Heroes

They worked by nights and secret days

To search, to find, explore the ways

Of nature, maths, technology.

It set their minds and spirits free.

When names are hidden there's no voice,

Though science was their tool of choice,

They dared not show their true degree

Of science knowledge, history.

In time their work was hailed wide

For insights taken in their stride

To solve big questions hard and tough

among their peers astute and rough.

But were it known the truth about

These wondrous minds... Without a doubt

Their work so full of true surprise

Would not have seen their work arise.

To grace our learning in good time

They had to lie about about their kind.

For women were not deemed to be

Astute enough for them to see.

What once was hid, then truth revealed

Dismissive males ruled the field

When meeting minds of equal strength

In women, men would baulk at length.

The glory deemed by right of rule,

Served by their god who was their tool

Created by the male mind

To trample, stifle, blame, define.

Though times were changing, still the fight

For true exposure to the light

For which they worked so hard each day

Is slipping back the other way.

A tide of darkness on the rise

To once again enslave, despise,

The fundamental myths of old

Resurgent worldwide, cruel and cold.

James Noel © 27^th January 2020

Dedicated to the Women of the Human Race.