This year, we are pleased to share a personal contribution from Dr Afsana Elanko, a representative of the ESSO Education and Training Committee – Transversal Working Group, who has written the following poem in honour of International Women’s Day. Her words reflect appreciation, strength, care, and professionalism – qualities embodied by women in medicine and beyond.
You Are A Special Lady
In the beginning you carried me for nine months,
Never tired of caring for me,
Tall you stood when describing me,
Engaged me with your beautiful stories,
Right from wrong you taught me,
Never tiring, resilience is in your nature,
Altogether you are amazing,
Totally professional when you work,
Intelligence comes naturally to you,
Openhearted kind spirit,
Never tiring in your generosity,
At the end I want to be with you,
Lovely likable lady always.
When you walk into the room your presence is felt,
Oblivious to your talents you are humble,
Mother nature lives in you,
Eternal love is what you know,
Nice courteous creature,
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious is what you are.
Days like today we honour you,
A moment today we take to appreciate you,
Yes, today we celebrate you in entirety, just the way you are.
© Dr Afsana Elanko, 2024
