Sonnet in honor of Rindy's 60th Birthday

One night in April nineteen hundred and fifty one
Just after Miriam had put her friendly stars to rest
Her oocytes with a sudden calcium release were blessed:
The Rindy you see today was soon one meiosis from done.

But first she had to solve the electrically vexing case
of voltage sensitive phosphoinositide
Did sperm from frogs in Elizabeth Park have batteries inside?
Or was it the sexy work of that dirty old phosphatase?

While hot on the trail of fertile frogs and starfish eggs
She learned to mix, to bake, to cook and yes to grill
And teamed with Mark on Concord Street our plates to fill
Leaving Xenopus a work with recipes for sex

Let's raise our glasses full and high Rindy to toast
And wish her 60 more and save the best for last

Richard M. Ratzn
January 8, 2012