By Iona, age 16
“Try and stop me”, she replied,
when faced with the word “No”,
for she knew she could flourish, if she tried.
Franklin found DNA’s shape, yet was denied,
the praise she deserved long ago.
“Try and stop me”, she replied.
Lovelace dared and defied,
as a technological trailblazer she did grow,
for she knew she could flourish, if she tried.
Goodall knew chimps were more like us, than implied,
persisting and protecting, though progress was slow.
“Try and stop me”, she replied.
Curie never stopped, for success she vied,
fascinated by uranium’s glow,
for she knew she could flourish, if she tried.
These women in science are our pride.
Never fearing the word “No”.
“Try and stop me”, they replied,
for they knew they could flourish, if they tried.