Torch Lighting

Asked by journalists about passing the torch
to younger feminists after her outrageous decades
of rattling the cages built by misogyny—
a charming woman with the wits of a magician,
Gloria Steinem, a bit miffed, responded, …no,
I’m keeping my torch, thank you very much.
And I’m using it to light the torches of others.

Born to a generation of haughty men
set on controlling women, children, people
who chose not to have AngloSaxon skin—
for generations, we have endured the injustices.
Like Lady Liberty, we held our flames high
through hard times, dark times, sparking hope
for those marching into a man’s world to change it.

Now, the old male guard is aging out of power—
some fearful of feminine designs on democracy,
others still addicted to manifest destiny as policy,
a few finally enlightened enough to believe in freedom—
one man, husband, father, grandfather, statesman
steps aside, joins us to invite a new torch
to blaze with the fire of passion and promise,

A wise woman standing on our strength, she is next
to light the torches of others…like us.

NEWSLINKS: NBC News, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC

AUDIOLINK: SoundCloud