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Just as if they were fighting soldiers,<br />
To be risking their lives at the front.<br />
<strong>The</strong>n the injustice <strong>of</strong> further denying women the vote<br />
Would be more than crystal clear.<br />
So <strong>of</strong>f to the Castle, to the RAMC,<br />
Went <strong>Elsie</strong> to volunteer.<br />
<strong>The</strong> man from the War Office smiled at <strong>Elsie</strong><br />
My good lady, go home and sit still.<br />
Did this make <strong>Elsie</strong> <strong>Inglis</strong> angry?<br />
If it did, it was grist to her mill<br />
For <strong>Elsie</strong> smiled back at the man, said nothing.<br />
She really did not want to be rude.<br />
Thought: If my government doesn’t want Women’s Field Hospitals<br />
Surely some other government would?<br />
2.<br />
My good lady, go home and sit still.<br />
But she did not, would not, could not, could she, take no for an<br />
answer?<br />
She was almost fifty years old already, already ill<br />
(Though she kept this close to her chest) with the cancer<br />
She, and only in her last days, swearing her to secrecy,<br />
Confided to Mary, that long-serving hospital-cook she trusted,<br />
She had a…’certain malignancy<br />
She was sure she’d survive and not be bested<br />
By.’-- Oh, the pain it was truly chronic,
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