Antonina Radomska

1848 Glinki - 1927 Winona

New to Pine Creek, married at seventeen
The next year, about to become a mother.
Mother was just thirty-seven herself
Tending to my little sisters, ages four and three.
What a relief to see the powerful figure
Of Pani Marianna Mądra stride in
Comforting me from one side of her mouth,
Snapping out commands from the other.
Right then I knew the pain would be bearable
Baby Felix would be fine and I would be fine too.
We were not always so lucky.
Two years later, Mother and I were pregnant again.
My baby Jozef was stillborn, but I survived;
Mother died giving birth to poor Jozef's stillborn uncle.
By 1877 our family had reached five, but that fall
Diphtheria reduced it to Walenty and me.
What could our friends say? Our priest?
Pani Marianna encouraged us to keep on.
Reminding us, with her all-knowing smile,
That God intended for us to multiply.
Elderly, hobbled, Pani attended her post
Helping our Augusta and our Jozefina into this world.
Let old men prattle about gods and generals.
Pani Marianna was the true hero,
Molding Pine Creek into its ultimate shape,
Filling its hills and valleys
With stout, hearty, Catholic farm families
More a partner to Creation than a servant.