Posing For The Life Class
From Pen Sketch by Ella Modrakowska, Philadephia, Pa.
Ella's work was purchased and used as print demonstrations by the Inland Printer company in and around 1902. She is listed in the Artist's Bluebook, Ask Art but there is no information other than birth and death and last location of New York. She is associated as the author of a Hungarian book printed in Munich in the 1920's on Kitty Starling, London Darling, which appears to be a book containing print poster examples of this dancer by numerous artists.
Her
Her body tones
and fired in servant phase
she is standing
on her
own grave
her life
no more meaningful
her sin
her wage
the poor woman
whose life was
limited
a domestic
breaking free
silken skin
and red knees
scrubbing her
life
no man's wife
her arms strong
her life
gone wrong
born wrong
born a woman
born wrong
born without power
without voice
a poor woman
a man's
were she rich
it would be the same
her cage then
perhaps silk lined
she stood naked
either way
with no voice
with no say
who will take us back, then who
she covers her eyes
with her hand on her hip
her voice now silenced, her rage yet keen
will we tumble back down into
the ravine
or will we stand
and conquer again
her strength rebuilt, her courage redoubt
a fortress she has built
we will defend
we will cleanse fear and
we will fight!
It makes no sense what is happening politically today, in our nation. Misogynists will not rule this land. We need our anger, we need our fire to stand firm on issues of women's reproductive rights, otherwise, we have no life. Controlling our reproduction has allowed us to participate more equally in the work force, to lose that, we are looking at just the beginning of our losses. Who does this serve? What is the purpose? This is a free nation, we strive for equality on all levels. We women are not chattel of any man or any CHURCH.
Copyright 2012 by SheilaTGTG55
I have written about my antique desk and the picture treasure trove within before, including this print of an ink drawing. You can read all about the discovery here:
2 comments:
Your profound thoughts were eloquently expressed in this poem...I'm with you in your fight.
Thank you for reading and commenting Victor.
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