Marguerite Bervoets is one of the most prominent figures of the Belgian Resistance. But what you may not know is that she also was a poet. 

Born in La Louvière in 1914, Marguerite starts writing poetry as a child. At just 18, she publishes het first collection. 

After studying Romance philology at ULB, she becomes a French teacher in Tournai while working on her doctoral thesis. Everything seems to point towards a life devoted to books. 

Then War breaks out. Refusing to stand by and watch, she joins the Resistance. 

Her involvement begins with words, through her poem Après, but soon turns into action. She publishes an underground newspaper, La Délivrance, collects intelligence, and takes part in field operations. 

In 1942, she’s arrested while on a mission and deported to Germany. Before her execution, she leaves behind a final letter, that will become famous. In it, she writes: “I died to bear witness that it is possible to love life passionately and still accept a necessary death.” 

Today, her name appears on a street in Forest and accompanies you on the bus. A reminder that words can be every bit as powerful as weapons.