Author’s Note: The final quote is from Susan B Anthony as she was sentenced for violating the voting laws of New York-1873.
the “weaker vessels” drank-up the Potomac potion wearing bloomers hounded by misery, history, trickery by men angered without whiskey the emancipation proclamation in hibernation bounded by chiaroscuro the never bending color line wound-up in blouses with bars in lavender scented tombs heavier than Alice Paul’s three squares in the Pen. the “better halves” carved-up Washington’s monument bearing chisels showered by pillory, injury, quackery by men angered without masculinity the franchise fricasseed sautéed then flambéed hemmed by church picnic Madonna’s the never breaking bible line prayed in parades with placards on back streets in the Bowery lighter than the value of Susan B’s rights the “little ladies” swept-up the steps of the Capitol with whisk-brooms dusted by memory, victory, liberty by men angered by blasphemy the restitution constitution in resolution penned by bearded prima donnas the never moving legal line votes crack vitro with voices in stairwells and back benches to finally end this “high handed outrage upon my citizen’s rights”
Bill Fay, retired engineer and published poet holds degrees in Fine Arts, Electrical Engineering and Business Administration. He has had work published by the Virginia V Foundation, Creative Colloquy, Puget Sound Poetry, Poetry Pea, and the Haiku Society of America, among others. He is currently working on his forth coming book- Tongueless Bell. Bill resides with his wife, and their two bodacious cats on Fox Island in Puget Sound near Seattle.
