Albert Einstein 68 - Einstein's Eldest Son - Hans Albert Einstein Poem by Geeta Radhakrishna Menon

When Hans was born to Albert & Mileva,
In 1904, in Bern in Switzerland,
Those were the happy years of marital bliss!
Both, Albert and Mileva, doted on their love child,
Most affectionately, addressing him as "Adu"!
Albert was a complete family man then,
Enjoying, playing and teaching his toddler son.
How to play games, solve riddles and puzzles!

But destiny has its own plans of action!
Though Albert got divorced from Mileva in 1919,
He strived hard to keep up his relationship
With his children, specially, his son Hans.
During the war period, he wrote regularly
To his children, while he was in Berlin with Elsa.
His letters were both interesting, educative and concerned,
Always promising, to meet them, as soon as the war ended.

To his son Hans Albert Einstein, he wrote:
"Don't worry about your marks. Just make sure you keep up
With your work and that you don't have to repeat a year. But,
It is not necessary to have good marks in everything."
On playing the piano he was condescending, but he was a strict
master on spelling mistakes. "You still make so many writing errors.
You must take care in that regard; it makes a bad
Impression when words are misspelled."

He even wrote to his sons, funny and quirky letters like
They should not forget to brush their teeth every day.
During vacation, he took Hans for hiking trips to the mountains.
Soon after his first trip to America in 1921,
He hastened to take a vacation with his grown-up sons,
Hans Albert seventeen years and Eduard eleven years.
They went sailing along the Baltic Sea Coast up north,
Spending the night in a village bakery, so simple and rustic!

At the age of twenty-three, Hans took a firm decision
To get married to Frieda Knecht, nine years older to him,
In spite of his parent's disapproval and opposition.
Hans was a man now, both determined and strong-willed,
Just like his father, who followed the dictates of his heart.
Frieda was a warm, loving lady who bore three children-
Bernhard, David, and Claus. Of them, only Bernhard survived.
Hans and Frieda adopted a baby girl, and had a happy life together.


A Biographical Poem