(emily wilding davison)
RISKING ALL ON A HORSE

Risking all on a horse round the course shouting hoarse
Cheer the crowd as the leaders gallop by
While determined not to fail, on the rail, slightly pale
Leans a woman who's about to do and die

Close behind them not so fast the three last gallop past
And the foremost bears the colours of the King
She ducks under, stands again, grabs a rein, falls in pain
And the jockey horse and colours take a fling

And the masses wonder why does she try to defy
This remorseless course of majesty and might
Till they see pinned to her skirt in the dirt as she lies hurt
Are the colours of the purple green and white

Though you may not know her name yet her fame is the same
As of loyal soldiers killed in foreign wars
And though her death be now remote as we vote let us note
How she gave her life, and let it give us pause

She had never had the will blood to spill far less still
To try to take another with her to the grave
So let us mark it well as we tell how she fell
That a woman need not fight to be called brave

She died not for loyalty but for that greater cause -
Everyone's rights - everyone's laws

BARRY PRESS

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