History’s Only Known Meteorite Victim

(a true story)

It was just an ordinary chondrite
fragment the experts said
but it landed on Ann Hodges
nearly knocking her dead

Celestial body 1685 Toro
was traveling outward from the sun
when a meteorite broke away
putting citizens on the run

Breaking into three pieces
when entering Earth’s atmosphere
the largest fragment was
the size of a grapefruit sphere

It was 1954, near Sylacauga
Alabama that the event took place
through the roof and off the radio
came this object from space

It hit Ann Hodges in the thigh
and left a nasty bruise
next thing you know
Ann was worldwide news

Said to be the only verified
victim of a meteorite strike
her 15 minutes of fame was
something she did not like

“A fireball, like a gigantic welding arc”
one witness did claim
Ann suffered a nervous breakdown
and never was the same

It’s called the Hodges Meteorite
in honor of our dear Ann
a monument to her in the
Sylacauga town square now stands

——

I learned about this historical event on my trip to Sylacauga on April 9, 2021 as part of the Moonshine Mille road rally.

Additional information, facts, and photos:

• The True Story of History’s Only Known Meteorite Victim, Ann Hodges was hit by a meteorite in her Alabama home in 1954, by Justin Nobel, for National Geographic News, February 20. 2013.
• Hodges Meteorite Strike (Sylacauga Aerolite), for the Encyclopedia of Alabama, by John C. Hall, University of West Alabama, August 17, 2007
• Meteorite hit woman November 30, 1954 and ruined the rest of her life, from Alabama Pioneers

Linked to Mindlovemisery’s Menagerie Sunday Writing Prompt — Great Balls of Fire, where relaxitsallwrite prompted us with Great Balls of Fire.

See more Historical Nonfiction poetry.