THREE! This poem answers three prompts: We Write Poems (Against the Grain), Writer’s Island (Tribute), and Sunday Scribblings (Big).
Larger than life, yet in her own mind, just doing her part. One of my all-times heroes, and right now, we need all the heroes we can get. Amy
Big Little Woman
To a woman who lost it all
Widowed, her children dead from dread disease, the flu pandemic.
After her kids perished, she nursed neighbors.
To a woman who rose from grief and chose
to take up the burden of others:
Mothers, fathers, children, all laboring side by side
in factories, in fields, on farms, long hours for pennies,
as their cruel, crafty masters garnered a tidy profit.
Fat cats whose fortunes were secure.
Rich men whose better angels whispered, “Show love, compassion.”
But Greed and Hubris shout down angels.
They blot out God in a frenzied cloud
of green ink and gold coins numbering 30 and more.
Still, this widow woman knew nothing and cared less
about her own comfort. Others’ welfare trumped wealth
in her sensibilities, as she saw the rich exploit the masses.
She trod into the mines and the mills.
She talked in the fields, where the hopeless
worked long hours under punishing conditions.
She spoke of dignity (if she’d stopped there,
she would never have seen a jail cell).
She spoke of fairness (watch it, lady).
She shouted about rights (ah, the gloves were off now).
She stirred the pot, this big little woman,
pistol under her petticoat, taking on police
sent by their rich masters.
She was the voice of unions, the midwife of labor.
Let’s raise a toast in tribute to this hero,
who warned us that labor leaders should never
wear fancy suits or become rich off their organizations
(a fact that speaks volumes today)
and who taught us that, no matter what
the rank and file must be protected:
Raise your glasses high to Mother Jones.
keiths ramblings
The world could do with a lot more Mrs Joneses!
Sharp Little Pencil
Mother Jones was practically a patron saint in our house when I was growing up. Came from a big “Union YES” family, despite the sometimes flawed leadership. We have to take care of the rank and file who are left – after all, the corporations took most of the union jobs and sent them overseas…
RJ Clarken
My glass is raised high and proud to Mother Jones. And to you.
Sharp Little Pencil
Someday we will share a table and toast her together! That is my wish tonight, Randi. Amy
Gloria
Well written tribute! Not many are willing to stand up for what they believe in at such great cost.
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Gloria. It’s so true – society looks to men for role models and doesn’t seem to see the Mary “Mother” Joneses and the Barbara Jordans (RIP), the Sojourner Truths, the women who have so inspired us and have had such an impact on our world. Maybe it’s because (other than the pistol under the petticoat, purely for protection) they don’t use violence to achieve their goals? Amy
Debbie
Amazing poem, amazing woman, amazing poet! 🙂
Sharp Little Pencil
Right back atcha, sweetie! Mother Jones was pure righteous indignation and steel. I love her so! Amy
Lisa
Very nicely done!
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Lisa. Used your link to travel to your blog as well… loved the sequoia! Amy
Kim Nelson
Amy,
You’ve done it again. In the guise of poetry and entertaining reading, you’ve offered up a history lesson and moral example.
Salud!
Sharp Little Pencil
Kim, thank you! As I said to Sherry, a lot of the story came from Lex’s research for a sermon on Mother Jones, as well as reading her autobiography, which is short and to the point.
LeiffyV
Very nice tribute and all the more pleasing with everything falling around our ears. Sometimes it’s good to know history can repeat itself for good at times. Thanks for sharing and reminding us what we should concentrate on!
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks so much, Leiffy. Yes, Mother Jones’ mission and message transcend time. As for history repeating itself for good, that’s the best we can ever hope for!
Sherry Blue Sky
Fantastic poem and tribute. What one person can do! Awesome topic, Amy!
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Sherry! Lex got me into the history of Mother Jones – in fact, on Mother’s Day, he once preached a sermon with the typical subject – Mary. Only it wasn’t Mary, the mother of Jesus. It was Mary Jones – “Mother” Jones!
Old Egg
What a fantastic tribute so well expressed.
Sharp Little Pencil
Robin, thank you so much for visiting and commenting. I guess everyone loves ’em some Mother Jones! Amy
vivinfrance
A great and heartfelt tribute to a big little woman.
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Viv. And your little boy on your blog, the opposite of the spectrum! Amy
Anthony North
Now that’s a great tribute.
Sharp Little Pencil
Anthony, thank you for this. She’s one of my all-time heroes, for sure. Amy
Deborah
Just WONDERFUL! an amazing woman and an amazing poem.
Sharp Little Pencil
One of the patron saints of the Barlow/Laughlin household when I was growing up!
Altonian
One of the best prose poems I have read in a long time, and some history I must admit is new to me (Sorry!) . The influential role women have played throughout history, in various arenas, has long been undervalued or just plain ignored. I’m sure you will play your part in putting matters to rights.
Sharp Little Pencil
Leigh, I thank you for this. The history was a combination of reading The Autobiography of Mother Jones (a short novel, probably in your local library) and my husband’s observations in preparing a sermon for Mother’s Day… he began, “This is the story of Mary. No, not THAT Mary. Mary Jones, better known in the labor community as Mother Jones.”
Thank you for the faith in me you expressed!
Shail Raghuvanshi
Liked it Sharp Little Pencil. Good one.
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Shail. The concept of collective bargaining, of union rights, is only about 80-90 years old in the US. Mother Jones certainly did her part, including in jail, to help secure rights for workers who were shackled to long hours, harsh conditions, and low pay. Now, of course, the Tea Party of the US (a disparate group of “Don’t confuse me with facts, just lower my taxes” people) are working to dismantle the system. Oy. Amy
Jae Rose
The ‘pistol under her petticoat’ – perhaps therein lies the power of being a woman. A great tribute..not only to Mother Jones..but all of us who dare..Jae 🙂
Sharp Little Pencil
Jae, this is so funny – I actually cringed when I added that detail because I am a pacifist. But I’m also a realist, and in those days, when a woman in a wagon confronted police, that pistol was a source of real power, and the only thing men would listen to.
Meryl Jaffe
Here! Here! Poem about a big woman, and how small others can be!
Thanks!
Meryl
http://departingthetext.blogspot.com
Sharp Little Pencil
Meryl, so glad you came by. I ran right over to your blog and saw an impressive posting about education strategies! Hooray for you, and lucky the parents who are blessed to see your blog as their children grow. I commented over there, as well. Amy
ladynimue
I have no words to tell how much i appreciate this poem .. Some day soon am going to write you about it .. promise !
Sarath Unnithan
pistol under her petticoat ~
There your words showed their might!
Raw Amy ~
When one speaks so honestly from the heart…such powerful verse it forms..
Never lose the fire that made you write this.
Somehow the company of such woman seem to be growing around me..
here’s one I heard recently at a literature fest..
http://meenu.wordpress.com/
Find her poetry somewhere in there..
Sarath Unnithan
Sharp Little Pencil
Sarath, you should be receiving a cc of an email I send Meena about her work. Honesty is the only starting point for us, as poets and as women, don’t you think?
I hesitated at the “pistol under her petticoat” because I am a pacifist, but it’s the truth, it was her truth, and it was probably the only way she could get past the police! Now there was a force of nature, huh?
Thanks for the referral above. Invaluable connection. Peace and blessings, Amy
neil reid
Guess I get to be the caboose.
I think there is wisdom (good heart) enough all around. I’ve walked with some, seen even more. The trick I think is that the rest of us (and I like saying “us” rather than any “them”) need listen, attend, witness what is already resident in our own best hearts. Maybe we rush too much, listen too little?
Someone said once, everyone expresses love as best they understand doing so, and yes, however some folks understanding leaves a lot to be desired. Not all so easy to see or accept, but it does rather change the way we might all see each other and ourselves. And (ha!) as I remind myself when I think I see a “villain” some days.
But thanks for how you attend with care our greater community. Hard work I know. And peace-inside for you all the while.
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks for a thoughtful comment, Neil. The biggest impression I’ve had of the Madison protests is the peaceful nature, the willingness to discuss – it’s not a “we and they” kind of town, as much as we don’t agree with the governor’s decision, we are will to engage in mature discourse. Now if only Scott Walker would remember we were born with TWO ears and ONE mouth… “the better to listen with, dearie…”
Peace inside me? I’m praying for that day. In the meantime, I march. Thanks so much, Amy
Marian Veverka
Thanks for leading me to this poem. A long time ago, my girlfriend & I helped her mother & the other women who worked at the place walk a picket line.
On the Goodreads contest page, I have a poem protesting the blowing off of mountain tops in order to get coal. Kentucky Rising is on facebook , there is also Appalachia Rising. The struggle goes on.
Sharp Little Pencil
Marian, anytime you can supply links, please do. Yes, I’ve walked a lot of picket lines – and also loudly proclaimed I would not cross one, when confronted with same, in front of a store with unfair labor practices. One of the most effective methods of protest is to make noise in support of the picketers – then pick up a sign and march in solidarity. We in Madison are protesting the state government, and the non-union folks are just as vehement as the union protesters. Thanks! Amy