Alfred Nobel was born into bankruptcy
In eastern Sweden, studied chemistry,
And languages, in the course of time,
Machines of war, submarines, land mines.
Experimenting with explosives in
His father’s laboratory, nitroglycerine
He helped to find, discovering economic worth,
Igniting it in caps with porous earth.
Nobel created dynamite, of greatest human power,
For building and for demolition’s hour.
Mansions, factories, patents had he many,
But wives and children had he, never, any.
When he died, his will held a fortune’s legacy,
So bitter disputes gave way to Peace, its legatee.
June Edvenson 