EDU_The_Ballard_of_Elsie_Inglis

Recommendations

Info

As good as any man. And many a suffering woman Would most certainly prefer (If it came to baring her all beneath th’ surgeon’s knife) Said knife be wielded by her. They had to thole tyrannical husbands -- His property, in law -- that was a wife. He’d the right to refuse her an operation -- Even one to save her life. Surely everyone saw what Elsie saw ? ‘Twould be only common decency To have female specialists in obstetrics, Paediatrics and gynaecology? 1894. Doctor Elsie Inglis founded in Edinburgh A Women’s Hospital for the Poor. 1914. Somebody shot somebody in Sarajevo And the whole bloody world was at war. 1914. Britain Needs You! and Young, green, lads were queueing up to enlist. Elsie Inglis saw the necessity For the doctor she was, for the suffragist. For patriotic Elsie knew she could muster All-female medical teams who would want
Just as if they were fighting soldiers, To be risking their lives at the front. Then the injustice of further denying women the vote Would be more than crystal clear. So off to the Castle, to the RAMC, Went Elsie to volunteer. The man from the War Office smiled at Elsie My good lady, go home and sit still. Did this make Elsie Inglis angry? If it did, it was grist to her mill For Elsie smiled back at the man, said nothing. She really did not want to be rude. Thought: If my government doesn’t want Women’s Field Hospitals Surely some other government would? 2. My good lady, go home and sit still. But she did not, would not, could not, could she, take no for an answer? She was almost fifty years old already, already ill (Though she kept this close to her chest) with the cancer She, and only in her last days, swearing her to secrecy, Confided to Mary, that long-serving hospital-cook she trusted, She had a…’certain malignancy She was sure she’d survive and not be bested By.’-- Oh, the pain it was truly chronic,
Page 1: The Ballad of Elsie Inglis By Liz L

EDU_The_Ballard_of_Elsie_Inglis

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?