Day Six

Time passes. Sometimes I forget it’s March. Sometimes I forget it’s Women’s History Month. I never forget for long, but there are other things that seem so much more important. I have to remember that women’s history concerns half the population of the earth, and that our rights are being eroded even as I sit staring at a blank screen. So it’s March, and I keep writing.

PROTEST

 Women protested;
They asked for the vote.
They were quiet
And held their signs.
They passed out pamphlets
Asking how long must we wait?

Women stood in front of the White House.
They held out their pamphlets
To passing people.
They said nothing,
Just stood.
This could not be tolerated.

The police arrested them,
Dragged them to prison.
Treated them worse
Than they treated murderers
Because freedom wasn’t for women.

The women fasted;
The public grew sympathetic.
The prison forced food down their throats,
Invading their bodies
And taking away their autonomy.

Women had a pin made,
A prison door with a lock.
Those who were arrested wore the pin.
They were proud.
They were strong.

They won the vote,
Without a single extra state to ratify.
They fought a long time.
Everyone fought against them.
But they won.

 The women were strong.
The women were brave.