Albert Einstein 30 - Albert's Sister - Maja Einstein Poem by Geeta Radhakrishna Menon

Maja was born in 1881, in Munich.
She was two years younger to Albert.
Albert and Maja enjoyed
A pleasant, happy childhood,
Growing up, learning together,
Memorable childhood years in school!
As siblings, they maintained a close relationship,
An affectionate bond throughout their lives.

In 1894, when Albert's family decided to leave Munich,
And move to Pavia in Milan, taking Maja along with them,
But leaving Albert behind, under the care of a relative,
So that he could complete his final year in school.
It was heart breaking for the brother and sister
To see their cosy home being uprooted,
And being separated from each other.
Albert was miserable without his family,
In an impulse, abruptly, left the school,
And boarded a train to join his family in Italy.

Unlike Albert, who had a scientific, technical bent of mind,
Maja developed a deep love for languages and literature.
Like her brother, she too, developed a craving for higher learning.
After her graduation, she moved to Bern to take up Ph.D studies.
She successfully completed her dissertation on Romance languages,
Which earned her doctoral degree in 1909 - a rare thesis,
Of an old French manuscript - ‘Chevalier au Cygne',
A legend of a mysterious knight, damsel and a swan!

Pauline Einstein, became the esteemed mother,
Who proudly proclaimed to the world,
That both her children - Albert and Maja,
Had successfully earned their doctoral degree,
With their intelligence and perseverance -
Title of Ph.D ‘Doctor', attached to their names!
The only regret being that their father - Hermann
Was not alive to share the happiness with his dear family.

A Biographical Poem