Albert Einstein 70 - At Caltech & In Pursuit Of Peace Poem by Geeta Radhakrishna Menon

In December 1930, Einstein made a trip
To United States with his wife Elsa, again.
Elsa was in charge of managing Einstein's
Meetings, with press, officials, celebrities, so on.
After a hectic schedule, they sailed off into Caribbean Sea.
They stopped in Cuba for two days, moved on, passing
Through Panama Canal, along the Mexican coast.
When they arrived in San Diego Harbor, they were picked up
And taken to Pasadena, where they settled down in a cottage
Near the California Institute of Technology or Caltech.

It was a pleasant three months long stay for in California,
Amidst palm trees, citrus groves and bright sunshine.
During his lectures, he advised the Caltech students to show
Concern for people along with their technical careers.
'In order that the creations of our minds shall be
Be a blessing and not a curse to mankind.
Never forget this in the midst of your diagrams and equations.'
The Caltech officials and students were much impressed
With Einstein's brilliant mind, while his lectures were a super hit.
They offered him a position in the Institute with an attractive salary.

The return journey after their stay in California,
By train to New York, was with a halt at a Hopi
Indian Reservation near the Great Canyon.
The Hopis appreciated Einstein's passion for peace.
They gifted him with a peace pipe.
Greatly enamoured by his ‘Relativity Theory',
Most amusingly, they addressed him as their ‘Great Relative'!
He gave another pacifist speech in Chicago, before returning
Back to New York, where he urged pacifist groups to radical action,
And appealed to the Jews to co-operate with the Arabs during the settlement process.

Back home in Germany, Einstein continued to be busy
With his lectures and his pacifistic missions, during 1931.
He gave two lectures at the Prussian Academy of Sciences.
Later, in May took off to England, for a month's stay.
He visited Oxford to deliver the Rhodes lectures, and was
Once again, honoured with a doctorate degree. Meanwhile, in Germany,
Under the dictatorship of Adolf Hitler, Dr Einstein continued
His mission for peace, disarmament and hope for the future generation.
At the same time, Dr. Einstein began seriously considering relinquishing
His German citizenship for the second time and move over to America for a peaceful life ahead!

A Biographical Poem