Raye Montague (1935-2018)

Raye Montague (1935-2018) | Zocalo Public Square • Arizona State University • Smithsonian

Raye Montague designed the first successful computer program for building naval ships in the 1970s. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Do the obituaries of great men
mention their hobbies?
Raye Montague played bridge.

If your obituary appears in the Times
and goes for six screens
maybe it’s okay to include
your hobbies.

Maybe the Times decided
bridge playing makes this woman
seem real?

Maybe if you go for six screens
there’s no way to show only respect.
Children above pets, pets above hobbies.
In bridge you need a partner.

To design a ship or a submarine
most people need two years.
She did it under two days.
She kept the soldiers safe.