© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved. Remarkably, the photo of the suffragists picketing the White House was taken on January 26, 1917! The photo of the marchers in Boston was taken by me on Saturday, January 21.
Text:
women's march 2017
again we march--
a century after
the obdurate
the brave
suffragists marched
for the right to vote
again we march--
50 years after
the defiant
the resolute
feminists marched
for equal rights
again we march
and again we'll
march--
until fear is defunct
and there are no -ists
just humans
Head over to Beyond LiteracyLink where Carol is hosting the Round-Up this week.
Diane, I am glad that you were inspired to create one of your inspirational image poems. I am glad that I know the backstory of who the "ist" is. "Until fear is defunct"-a powerful line.
ReplyDeleteThanks Carol. Isn't "defunct" a fun word?
DeleteYes, Diane, it is a word to use in the future and hope that fear does become defunct.
DeleteYay, Diane! I smile to see you pointing to history. I saw a sign that said "My Arms Are Tired From Holding This Sign for Fifty Years!"
ReplyDeleteGreat sign, I wish I had seen it myself!
DeleteI can't remember the book now, but I've read one nf story about the challenges of the suffragettes, what they endured for us. Your poem ending in hope is lovely, Diane, and yes, I too love that word "defunct".
ReplyDeleteThanks for your rousing poem and spirit, we need a lot of each on the road ahead!
ReplyDelete"Mr. President--you said Liberty is the fundamental demand of the human spirit"--ah...if only our president believed this.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your pairing of image and poem--both wonderful, Diane.
It does feel like we've been passed a torch to carry on, from all the pioneers and trailblazers who marched before us, to earn us the rights and freedoms that we all too easily take for granted. We can only hope that one day we won't be able to march any more!
ReplyDeleteYes! We are still marching and will march "until fear is defunct." We can also take inspiration and courage from those who have gone before as your poem so aptly reminds us.
ReplyDeleteI find it intriguing that the original line is gone. I've had that happen more than once myself. Quite the phenomenon!
ReplyDeleteIt's good to remember our indebtedness to those who marched in the past for the rights we too often take for granted today. Thanks for the rousing poem!
ReplyDelete"Again we march..." Yes, Diane, we march in a show of love and solidarity. Thank you for this poem and your postcard poem. =)
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this. I love the hat tip to the incredible women that marched before us and your words for today. You give me hope. Poets on the front line!
ReplyDeleteDiane, have you seen the movie SUFFRAGETTE? We have so much to be grateful for -- all those brave, strong women who have come before us. Thank you for your poem!
ReplyDeleteGreat line breaks! Thank you for marching, Diane!
ReplyDeleteI am finding solace in poetry. I am proud that you marched and then wrote this poem. We will rise!
ReplyDeleteI love this. So glad you were inspired by that lost line to share this.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant.
ReplyDeleteSo important to know what came before--today we see what happens when people are ignorant. I'm finding it so hard not to blames our schools, myself.
ReplyDeleteFeeling empowered by your poem, Diane. Such a powerful ending, especially—
ReplyDeleteuntil fear is defunct
and there are no -ists
just humans
Jen had wanted to go to the march in Concord, but couldn't - glad you gained some inspiration from it!
ReplyDelete