Ada’s Algorithm
Before the world understood computer’s code,
She traced the pulse of gears—premodern light—
A poet’s child, yet steeled by logic’s road,
Her mother’s choice to steer from poetic sight.
At seventeen, she met the clanking dream,
Babbage’s engine, skeleton of thought;
In translating Menabrea’s learn-ed scheme,
Conceived the first true algorithm taught.
Three times she wrote beyond the text she read,
Imagining music born of iron hearts,
A dawn of art and symbol overhead,
Where mind and machine would play their parts.
She married titles yet remained unbound,
A countess by name, by vision more—
Her children’s laughter mixing with the sound
Of futures only she could map and store.
At thirty-six, she closed her earthly span,
Her breath as brief as Byron’s sudden flame;
Yet in her notes the sparks of progress ran—
A century before the world knew her name.
Now silicon dreams rise where she once gazed,
And every line of code gives grace to one
Who saw beyond mechanical malaise,
She who imagined facts beyond her run
Ada’s Algorithm
From the blog
About the Author: Sarah B. Royal
Sarah B. Royal’s writing defies convention. Her poetry and prose traverse the boundaries between structure and spontaneity, often weaving together philosophical inquiry, cultural reflection, and personal narrative. With a background in experimental literature, she is known for crafting works that challenge readers to engage intellectually and emotionally.
Her acclaimed palindrome performance play, 777 – A Story of Idol Worship and Murder, showcases her fascination with mirrored storytelling and thematic symmetry. In o x ∞ = ♥: The Poet and The Mathematician, Royal explores the intersection of poetic intuition and mathematical logic, revealing a unique voice that is both analytical and lyrical.
Royal’s collections—such as Lost in the Lost and Found, Haiku For You, Lantern and Tanka Too, and the WoPoLi Chapbook Series—highlight her commitment to neurodivergent expression and poetic experimentation. Whether through childhood verse or contemporary fusion poetry, her work invites readers into a world where language is both a tool and a playground.
Sarah B. Royal continues to expand the possibilities of poetic form, offering readers a deeply personal yet universally resonant experience. Her writing is a testament to the power of creative risk, intellectual depth, and emotional authenticity.
WoPoLi 
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