Sylvia’s Mother

Sylvia’s mother said we don’t need to bother
working class women in our fight for the vote.
Sylvia didn’t.

Sylvia’s mother said we’ll pause our struggles
for the duration, hand out white feathers.
Sylvia didn’t.

Sylvia’s mother said we don’t need men
from the working class with socialist views.
Sylvia didn’t.

Sylvia’s mother said she’d join the Conservatives,
stand for election which she did (but she lost).
Sylvia didn’t.

Sylvia’s mother says she’s delighted her statue
now stands in Parliament Square.

Sylvia isn’t. Hers will be placed in Clarkenwell Green,
she’ll stand with her people there.

Tonnie Richmond

Tonnie Richmond lives in Leeds and has spent many summers as a volunteer archaeologist in Orkney. She has had poems  published by Yaffle, Dragon/Yaffle, Driech, Leeds Trinity University and others. Her first pamphlet will be published later this year.