Women, Poetry and History

On April 4, 2006, the women of Kuwait voted for the first time — and made a difference: about 60 percent of eligible voters were women.

In recognition of that hallmark, I share a poem written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman.  The book was titled Suffrage Songs and Verses and sold for 10¢ a copy.

 LOCKED INSIDE 

She beats upon her bolted door,
   With faint weak hands;
Drearily walks the narrow floor;
Sullenly sits, blank walls before;
  Despairing stands. Life calls her, Duty, Pleasure, Gain–
  Her dreams respond;
But the blank daylights wax and wane,
Dull peace, sharp agony, slow pain–
  No hope beyond.


Till she comes a thought! She lifts her head,
  The world grows wide!
A voice–as if clear words were said–
"Your door, O long imprisonéd,
  Is locked inside!"