Monday 13 April 2015

Same old news...


Make a poem around a news headline from 1913
For this poem I found a story that lead the eminent Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to speak out publicly against the Suffragette movement...calling them "female hooligans", and likening their outrageous act to "blowing up a blind man and his dog"

The Nevill Pavillion April 11th 1913

Priorities?

Secretly sneaking.
Whispering, peeking,
Anger steaming,
Sparks the match.

Lampman screaming,
Firemen streaming,
Locals watching,
No one catch.

Smoke still curling,
Notes unfurling,
Poster glaring,
Blame attach.

Tar and feather
all together
"Female Hooligans!"
All same batch!

In 1913 a group of Suffragettes set fire to a prestigious cricket pavilion in protest at it's ban on the admittance of woman. They left behind a picture of the then imprisoned Emily Pankhurst.
The spark that ignited their rage was a comment made by an unidentified club official who, when asked, was reported to have replied 
"It is not true that women are banned from the pavilion. 
Who do you think makes the tea?"

Photobucket

8 comments:

  1. It's fascinating looking back at these early days of protest and seeing how things unfolded. So much changes, but some things stay the same. Very thoughtful work.

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  2. It's fascinating looking back at these early days of protest and seeing how things unfolded. So much changes, but some things stay the same. Very thoughtful work.

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  3. Nice one, Gina. Love it. We rebellious ladies have a long history behind us. :-)

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  4. Totally told the story! Loved the almost staccato way the words came out when reading aloud!

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  5. My Piano Man just came to the room to see why I was going, "Oh no! Oh no, the f*cking bastard didn't say that. Oh no!" I'm all for civil disobedience without harm to none and nothing, but after those words were spoken I would have been there with a freaking blowtorch!

    Gina, I love that your poem reads like a spell; an angry spell, full of outrage and frustration. The rhyme and rhythm makes it extra delightful.

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  6. That remark sets my teeth to grinding,also, and I'm applauding the brave women who got perhaps a bit carried away in a good cause--goddess forbid you attack the sacred premises of Sport! I thought about writing to the suffragette headlines, as well, but now glad I went the other way as you have nailed it.

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  7. For a women not liking gangs, You must of headed this March in another time!
    I'd follow you!
    xDebi

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  8. oooooh. he's lucky they didn't 'amend' his tea with something else... ~

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