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

Poem

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Jones Avatar
August 6, 2013 at 8:17 AM
Congratulations Debbie
Haick Avatar
August 5, 2013 at 9:07 PM
Congratulations on a wonderful poem and a very fine win, Debbie!
A  Avatar
August 5, 2013 at 9:52 AM
:- ) Congratulations!!! ~SKAT~
A   Avatar
August 5, 2013 at 9:05 AM
congrats..PD
Lamoureux Avatar
August 5, 2013 at 7:58 AM
A moving piece congratulations and thanks for entering.
Macmillan Avatar
August 5, 2012 at 10:45 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
Ramage Avatar
July 27, 2012 at 9:50 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
Brown Avatar
July 27, 2012 at 11:04 AM
Thank you for your support of my contest and congratulations on your well deserved win Debbie. Love, Carol
Song Avatar
July 25, 2012 at 10:12 PM
Great depiction of the political energy within the horrifying political process...thank goodness for freedom of speech...gwendolen
Bordner Avatar
July 25, 2012 at 1:24 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.
Singleton Avatar
July 25, 2012 at 4:31 AM
Fantastic write Deb, & a big congratulations on your win much love xx
Williams Avatar
July 25, 2012 at 3:39 AM
Debbie congrats on your numer 1 spot, an excellent piece about women...David
Grisetti Avatar
July 24, 2012 at 7:30 PM
Congratulations on your poem win.
Wellington Avatar
July 24, 2012 at 6:42 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
May Avatar
July 24, 2012 at 6:38 PM
congrats on your win Debbie...
Kendrick Avatar
July 24, 2012 at 5:46 PM
Congrats on your winning work..Sara
Sweetheart Avatar
July 24, 2012 at 5:44 PM
congrats Debbie on a dynamite first place win with this ultra fantastic write luv ..on lip service.. a wow wonder..
Hunter Avatar
July 24, 2012 at 3:31 PM
You speak it, Debbie! Congrats!
Dietrich Avatar
July 23, 2012 at 9:52 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.
Ludden Avatar
July 23, 2012 at 8:43 PM
'Twas ever thus with campaigning. I've come to reject it all. Thanks for these reflections, Debbie.
Williams Avatar
July 23, 2012 at 11:37 AM
Debbie an excellent write about the un-equalness of men and women, ...David
Grisetti Avatar
July 22, 2012 at 7:44 PM
A profound insight for women. Great poem. Thank you for your kind words.
Ryerson Avatar
July 22, 2012 at 5:49 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
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