Just Women
after seeing a photo in The NY Times 11-17
I wish I could be Judge Shelley Joseph.
My hair is long and grey and I own
a few age spots but not the guts
to help an immigrant escape
from ICE
Judge Joseph signaled
she will stand trial
A man scowls in the background
Her prosecutor, her advocate?
Why do women become victims
When they are just?
Marie Jovanovitch told the truth
to Congress but had to endure
being defamed by tweets.
She is a loyal, brave patriot
who almost lost language
but held her head high
and like Christine Blasey Ford
told the truth despite men’s
taunts.
Shelley, Marie and Christine
should meet, celebrate honesty.
I would hope to be in the street
with thousands singing their names.
Mare Leonard lives in an old school house overlooking The Rondout Creek. Away from her own personal blackboard, she teaches through the Institute for Writing and Thinking and the MAT program at Bard College. She has published four chapbooks of poetry and a new one, The Dark Inside the Hooded Coat will be published shortly at Finishing Line Press. http://www.mareleonard.com
Communicators League 