Lip Service

A field of angry faces fume
with mouths agape as spittle flies
from lips best used for other tasks.

Upon the green , the rolling lawn of angst,
demonstrators wave paper placards. 
Group A never nearing Group B.
Flags drape the bandstand packed
with pomp and politicians give lip-service
to the trodden rights of man.

Unequal, but present, women, fe-males
present themselves in all manner of vehicles
from stroller to walker to wheel chair, we are here.
For one hundred years, we have been ‘given’
the ‘right’ to own property, 
but still
our labor is worth less.
Un-joined, un-backed,
if alone, many are left
in the ranks of the poor.

A field of angry faces fume
no child care, no child left behind,
inadequate health care, still we struggle on
in the twenty-first century,
where politicians preen and prance
and misuse our votes.

The divide ever present,
our ranks rife with unrest,
our creative powers used to shackle us
given only lip-service.

Still, we will prevail.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2012



Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Date: 8/6/2013 8:17:00 AM
Congratulations Debbie
Login to Reply
Date: 8/5/2013 9:07:00 PM
Congratulations on a wonderful poem and a very fine win, Debbie!
Login to Reply
Date: 8/5/2013 9:52:00 AM
:- ) Congratulations!!! ~SKAT~
Login to Reply
Date: 8/5/2013 9:05:00 AM
congrats..PD
Login to Reply
Date: 8/5/2013 7:58:00 AM
A moving piece congratulations and thanks for entering.
Login to Reply
Date: 8/5/2012 10:45:00 AM
fe-males? ;-) I'm optomistic. Me thinks, FREE-males. Loved the repetition subtly used. You know, Chris would have LOVED this, too. Powerful. Fluff free. Hugs, Cyndi
Login to Reply
Date: 7/27/2012 9:50:00 PM
Great poem, glad we don't have the same issues in Canada. Our healthcare is wonderful. We have government supported childcare for people who do not earn much money. A very good social system. Well done. Lee
Login to Reply
Date: 7/27/2012 11:04:00 AM
Thank you for your support of my contest and congratulations on your well deserved win Debbie. Love, Carol
Login to Reply
Date: 7/25/2012 10:12:00 PM
Great depiction of the political energy within the horrifying political process...thank goodness for freedom of speech...gwendolen
Login to Reply
Date: 7/25/2012 1:24:00 PM
Political poetry is more than invaluble,it is crucial Debbie - let us all rise to the ring of Natural Right articulation - imagination always prevails over History my friend - thanks for the provocation - superb word play with "Fe-males"- J.A.B.
Login to Reply
Date: 7/25/2012 4:31:00 AM
Fantastic write Deb, & a big congratulations on your win much love xx
Login to Reply
Date: 7/25/2012 3:39:00 AM
Debbie congrats on your numer 1 spot, an excellent piece about women...David
Login to Reply
Date: 7/24/2012 7:30:00 PM
Congratulations on your poem win.
Login to Reply
Date: 7/24/2012 6:42:00 PM
Debbie, a well deserved win alongside Rockman's...I may not have commented on your poems before, but I do read and enjoy them and you have always rallied to the cause of the underdog, the poor and women and I lift my hat to you on this great piece that speak out for us "women". Tnx for reading and your comment. One love. Joy Wells
Login to Reply
Date: 7/24/2012 6:38:00 PM
congrats on your win Debbie...
Login to Reply
Date: 7/24/2012 5:46:00 PM
Congrats on your winning work..Sara
Login to Reply
Date: 7/24/2012 5:44:00 PM
congrats Debbie on a dynamite first place win with this ultra fantastic write luv ..on lip service.. a wow wonder..
Login to Reply
Date: 7/24/2012 3:31:00 PM
You speak it, Debbie! Congrats!
Login to Reply
Date: 7/23/2012 9:52:00 PM
WAY to do a poem on LIPS, Debs. This is outstanding free verse and very in keeping with today's world. Love this one.
Login to Reply
Date: 7/23/2012 8:43:00 PM
'Twas ever thus with campaigning. I've come to reject it all. Thanks for these reflections, Debbie.
Login to Reply
Date: 7/23/2012 11:37:00 AM
Debbie an excellent write about the un-equalness of men and women, ...David
Login to Reply
Date: 7/22/2012 7:44:00 PM
A profound insight for women. Great poem. Thank you for your kind words.
Login to Reply
Date: 7/22/2012 5:49:00 PM
Here, here Deb!!...I don't trust ANY of them any more...by the time they get to the top of the heap, they are too corrupted by the big-shots they owe for getting them there...Lip-service is all we get now - Tim
Login to Reply
Get a Premium Membership
Get more exposure for your poetry and more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry

Member Area

My Admin
Profile and Settings
Edit My Poems
Edit My Quotes
Edit My Short Stories
Edit My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder

Soup Social

Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us

Member Poems

Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread

Member Poets

Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest

Famous Poems

Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100

Famous Poets

Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War

Poetry Resources

Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetics
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
Store
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter