A visionary pause in the cycle

When she refused to buy or sell

When the daughters of perfect wives

Said there must be no more sacrifice...

Needed more than symbolic change

More than silent wasting away

In factories and sterile marriages

(He was God. She was powerless.)



With a brick for every year of life

She set out for the house of lies

The Old Boys Club under siege

His Lordship cowered under his seat

Called for brandy and reinforcements

Blasted away at every movement.



Close to breaking down the door...

Past thick blue lines and stupid laws

Black Friday left her bruised and stubborn

One brick from winning the struggle!

Rapunzel hacked at the ivory tower

Asquith quickly rose to the hour...

Appealed to patriotism, oily smiles

Gave nothing, called it compromise.



Gauging the situation perfectly

Said, "Ladies! Ladies! Listen to me!

1914, we're on the brink of war

Pick up a flag, drop your cause!

Your targets are counter-revolutionary

Take my hand in democracy!

Here's a piece of paper

You're officially free

Here's a list of instructions

For you to obey;

(And here's sharp knife

To cut your own throat

Small sacrifice in return for a vote...)"



Whispered work in Pankhurst's ear:

Visions of the first woman peer

Led women down the garden path

And into the arms of the enemy.

Jail and force-feeding, wasted martyrdom

Sold her songs for the National Anthem

Slotted the smile back neatly into place

Served refreshments

At the end of the race

All demands reduced to a joke

X marks the plague: abandon hope



Butlers still pouring brandy for the rich

"Excuse me,

Could you pass me the privilege?"

A woman's voice, the state's ideal

Same vested interest, same dirty deals

Currie and Williams immersed in the times:

Examples to keep the the rest in line.

Currie and Williams, two of a kind:

Examples to keep the rest in line.

--