It seems of Votes I now must speak
Because so many of you care
About a special date this week!
Victorian groundswell - discontent
Injustice, women were excluded
The First World War was heaven-sent
In that the ladies felt included!
They played their part and did men's work
While soldiers fought at muddy Front
They rolled their sleeves up, didn't shirk
In terms of grind, they bore the brunt!
Yet had no say in Parliament;
Suffragettes swarmed through the streets
Equality was their intent
Chained to railings; Woman speaks!
The Pankhursts had begun a trend
Which wiped the smile from MPs' faces.
Think Emily Davison's sad end
Crushed under hooves at Epsom Races...
So on sixth of Feb, 1918
The over-thirties got the vote
If graduate or land-owning queen;
Though «Votes for all» remained remote!*
(c) Poet in the woods 2018
* All British women over 21 got the vote on 2nd July, 1928.
Emily Davison (1872-1913)
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