THE CURIOUS CASE OF DR BARRY

THIS IS A FASCINATING TRUE STORY THAT I HAD TO WRITE ABOUT

THE CURIOUS CASE OF DR JAMES BARRY

 

HE QUALIFIED AS A DOCTOR IN 1812,

BECOMING A SURGEON OF REPUTE;

HE BECAME INSPECTOR GENERAL,

WELL RENOWNED FOR BEING ASTUTE

 

HE WAS AN OFFICER IN THE BRITISH ARMY,

SERVING OVERSEAS AS WELL;

HE OPERATED ON THE WOUNDED;

& GAVE DIGNITY TO ALL THAT FELL

 

HE TREATED NATIVES IN THEIR VILLAGES;

IMPROVING CONDITIONS ALL AROUND;

HE WORKED TIRELESSLY ALL OVER THE GLOBE,

A FINE DOCTOR WHO WAS ETHICALLY BOUND

 

HE IMPROVED SANITORY CONDITIONS FOR LEPERS,

HE FOUGHT FOR BETTER FOOD AND MEDICAL CARE;

HE WAS POSTED TO MANY PLACES NEAR AND FAR

AND UNDERTOOK PROCEDURES FEW WOULD DARE

 

ON 25 JULY 1865 HE DIED IN ENGLAND OF DYSENTRY;

OUTLIVED BY HIS FAITHFUL MAN SERVANT JOHN;

HE WAS PREPARED FOR HIS BURIAL BY A CHAR WOMAN

AND BECAME A RARE CURIOSITY FROM THEN ON

 

THE CURIOUS CASE OF DR BARRY BEGAN TO UNRAVEL

FOR THE BELOVED DR WAS NOT YOUR ORDINARY MAN;

HE WAS ACTUALLY BORN MARGARET ANN BULKLEY;

AND HER PERSONA, A WELL THOUGHT OUT PLAN

 

DR BARRY WAS A WOMAN WHO DRESSED AS A MAN,

AN IRISH BORN GIRL WHO CROSS-DRESSED TO SUCCEED;

SHE WAS THE FIRST FEMALE BORN BRITISH DOCTOR…

HER SEX CONFINED IN LIFE, BUT IN HER DEATH, WAS FREED

Reviews

[emmajoy]

You create such original poems with each of your well known personages and this is no exception. In the past I've wondered why this incredible woman remains generally unknown, her life would make a wonderful stage play or film, Thank you for reminding me of her amazing courage.

Please invite people onto a Friends' list, you need more readers and I'm sure there must be quite a few who'd love to visit you.

[J. J. Nightingale]

Wow .. Thanks for bringing this subject to light .. What women had to do back then to succeed . .. This is a incredible story ...

Well written .. Jasmine