On Pardoning Susan B Anthony
“Nasty Woman,”
But Pardon Me?
Grab’em by the pussy,
But Pardon Me?
Assault and harassment,
lawsuits and bankruptcy,
Lies and fake news,
But Pardon Me?
Dehumanizing the most vulnerable,
More for the rich and hunger for the least,
Federal agents in our cities and tear-gassing your way to church,
But Pardon Me?
Golden surroundings and golf driving cash into your own enterprise
while 170,000 parish for disregard of science and incompetence,
But Pardon Me?
“Lock Her Up,”
But Pardon ME!
Pardon me? (Enormous eye-roll) Please,
“Women, their rights, and nothing less.”
Yours is the not the pardon I seek.
Susan B Anthony has more to say
she cries out still for greater dignity
and nourishment of the greater good.
For justices and equity
not pandering and dishonesty.
For real actions and real work
for policy and practices that make life abundant for all.