POEM: Liverpool’s First Language (Eleanor Rathbone)

Liverpool’s a hot bed for protest and for change.

Politics is ‘r first language debate’s how we engage.

Our only Blue’s in Goodison Red’s ‘r governing flag.

Yellow is for bellies who’s left is middle class.

There was one of independence she shunned those primary hues,

she fought for hidden voices, brought breadlines into view.

She studied noble Dockers held spotlights on their cause,

questioned unfair acts from bosses who paid crumbs for those on board.

She questioned why our women who had equal sweat on brow

had to work for less than pittance with them in charge expecting bows.

She took arms against oppression infuriated by our plight:

didn’t condescend or pity she cleared our paths so we could fight.

She craved for equal power, pushed for knowledge to be shared,

created services to guide us, so our voices could be heard.

She addressed the global challenge of how women where abhorred,

subject to violence and repression, ignored and robbed of choice.

We should take time to acknowledge what those opened doors achieved.

Be responsible and vote for the voices you believe.

There was a time our mouths where covered when our choices didn’t count,

to be passive and ignore this puts her efforts in to doubt.

See, Liverpool’s a hot bed for protest and for change

Rathbone fought for our inclusion, so it’s our duty to engage.

By Emma Seasman