what tenuous freedoms did we have
that they hung on the balance
of one woman’s life?

we grew so complacent in our fight
resting in our ignorance
as she held the door.

her pertinacity kept us safe
while she held fast our freedoms
against all assaults

in the dark chasm of her absence
we stare down our oppressors
eye to hungry eye

victory curving their smacking lips
our rights over the abyss
they scent a weakness

we cannot let them tear asunder
all she fought for all those years
we must battle on.

wake your anger and drink it deeply
carry her spark into the night
keep holding the door.

mmorehead 2020