Friday, December 25, 2020

Capping the Year With My Poetry Sisters - Wistful Poetry

It's our last challenge for 2020, which this time around  was to write to the theme of "Wish I'd Been There," or to an historical event that incites wistfulness. I'm not sure the event I've chosen incites wistfulness, but this event reminds me of something my mother often said, "Oh, to be a fly on the wall." Or as Burr proclaims in Hamilton, "I wanna be in the room where it happens." 

Let me take you back to 1872 in Rochester, NY. 

Clipped from the Brooklyn Union newspaper, 5 Nov 1872

I'm not sure this poem is finished yet, but it's a start.

November 5th, 1872 - Election Day

I've always admired 
those resolute women
corset wearing
bustled and ruffled
     risk takers
     rule breakers
     history makers
who cast their votes
for Ulysses S. Grant
pushed the boundaries
of the 14th amendment
determined to be heard
who embraced fully
the word citizen
with all the rights
it implied
who broke the law
then marched on

Poem ©Tricia Stohr-Hunt, 2020. All rights reserved.

You can read the pieces written by my Poetry Sisters at the links below. We're missing a sister or two, but they'll be back for other challenges. 
I do hope you'll take some time to check out all the wonderful poetic things being shared and collected today by Irene Latham at Live Your Poem. Happy poetry Friday friends! Sending you all wishes for a happy holiday season and much awaited new year. 

13 comments:

  1. This prompt is intriguing. Your poem definitely sheds light on those "determined to be heard" back then and still today. Wishing you and yours a very happy holidays. :)

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  2. I think my favorite thing here is the final couplet. It's perfection, really. Your mom was right. Oh, to be a fly on the wall.

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  3. I'm kind of in love with "bustled and rustled." Thank you! Happy Poetry Friday!

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  4. Yes! I wish I'd been there, too.

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  5. Oh! Love it! "Broke the law and marched on" is just CLASSIC. "She was warned... Nevertheless, she persisted."

    Deep peace to you this day.❄️

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  6. I love the prompt, Tricia. And I love "who broke the law/then marched on". They did not stop, nor should we here ready to start a better 2021. Enjoy your holidays.

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  7. Power to the women who broke the law/then marched on. Power to the women in every age and particularly in our own. Thank you for your post!

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  8. I love "bustled and ruffled risk takers rule breakers." Perfect.

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  9. I love how in just a couple of lines
    corset wearing
    bustled and ruffled
    you give us the details that set these women instantly apart from modern women breaking rules. That makes it so real to me, and it makes their risks so much more...obvious, somehow. I'm inspired:>)

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  10. I love this poem. I am particularly fond of:
    "those resolute women
    corset wearing
    bustled and ruffled
    risk takers
    rule breakers
    history makers" but the whole poem is terrific. Thanks for sharing it here.

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  11. Hooray for the rule breakers and risk takers!

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  12. Tricia, with resolve the suffragettes broke the law and marched on as you so beautifully ended your poem. These women paved the way for a new world where everyone was provided the right to vote. From corset wearing to modern garb women have been integral in history. Happy Holidays.

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