International Women's Day - Bread and Roses

I have always greatly admired Annie Lennox as an incredible artist/singer/song writer.. Over the years, I have come to greatly respect her as a committed activist, especially n her involvement with HIV, violence against women and poverty.

We all can't be Annie Lennox. But today on International Women's Day I think and reflect on all of the women, artists or not, whom I know, have known or don't know, or will come to know. Each has made and will make affective and effective change. I admire them all so much. We are all in this together as human beings, male and female.
Happy International Women's Day, to all of my sisters, all over the world living and beyond this mortal coil.

As we come marching, marching in the beauty of the day,

A million darkened kitchens, a thousand mill lofts gray,

Are touched with all the radiance that a sudden sun discloses,

For the people hear us singing: "Bread and roses! Bread and roses!"

As we come marching, marching, we battle too for men,

For they are women's children, and we mother them again.

Our lives shall not be sweated from birth until life closes;

Hearts starve as well as bodies; give us bread, but give us roses!

As we come marching, marching, unnumbered women dead

Go crying through our singing their ancient cry for bread.

Small art and love and beauty their drudging spirits knew.

Yes, it is bread we fight for -- but we fight for roses, too!

As we come marching, marching, we bring the greater days.

The rising of the women means the rising of the race.

No more the drudge and idler -- ten that toil where one reposes,

But a sharing of life's glories: Bread and roses! Bread and roses!

 

                                                                     -   James Oppenheim