Table of Contents
-
Susan Saxe
- Patience
- Questionnaire
- I Argue My Case
Page: 62
Patience
(for my sisters, a trilogy of revolution)
There is no need now to rush about my life,There is no need now to rush about my life,
I have time, each day, to unfoldI have time, each day, to unfold
carefully, my rage —carefully, my rage —
no longer impotent,no longer impotent,
But the most powerful force in the universe.But the most powerful force in the universe.
(Do you hear me, Mother?)(Do you hear me, Mother?)
Slowly like a sunflower, like a tree,Slowly like a sunflower, like a tree,
Revolution unfolds before me:Revolution unfolds before me:
Newspaper pages beginning with world news,Newspaper pages beginning with world news,
and ending with the comics,and ending with the comics,
and classified ads announcing the endand classified ads announcing the end
of things as we know them.of things as we know them.
Inevitably the world, the nation, the city,Inevitably the world, the nation, the city,
the arts, society, sportsthe arts, society, sports
and personalsand personals
will be recycledwill be recycled
By patient origamists, armed with love.By patient origamists, armed with love.
Questionnaire
There is unfeminine (but oh, so Female)There is unfeminine (but oh, so Female)
sureness in my hands,sureness in my hands,
checking "No." to every questionchecking "No." to every question
in the Harris poll, Reader's Digest,in the Harris poll, Reader's Digest,
Mademoiselle,Mademoiselle,
I am an outlaw, so none of that applies to me:I am an outlaw, so none of that applies to me:
I do not vote in primaries, do not wish to increaseI do not vote in primaries, do not wish to increase
my spending power, do not take birth controlmy spending power, do not take birth control
pills.pills.
I do not have a legal residence, cannot tell youI do not have a legal residence, cannot tell you
my given name or how (sometimes very) oldmy given name or how (sometimes very) old
I really am.I really am.
I do not travel abroad, see no humor in uniforms,I do not travel abroad, see no humor in uniforms,
and my lips are good enough for my loverand my lips are good enough for my lover
as they are.as they are.
Beyond that, no one heads my household, I would notBeyond that, no one heads my household, I would not
save my marriage if I had one, or anybody else'ssave my marriage if I had one, or anybody else's
if I could.if I could.
I do not believe that politicians need me, that JesusI do not believe that politicians need me, that Jesus
loves me, or that short men are particularly sexy.loves me, or that short men are particularly sexy.
Nor do l want a penis.Nor do l want a penis.
What else do you have to offer?What else do you have to offer?
I Argue My Case
Gentlemen of the Jury:Gentlemen of the Jury:
I have had the time and opportunity to appearI have had the time and opportunity to appear
before you in the guisebefore you in the guise
(disguise) of every woman:(disguise) of every woman:
to you, sir, I was the dumb handto you, sir, I was the dumb hand
that wiped yourthat wiped your
table,table,
to you, sir, a flimsy blackto you, sir, a flimsy black
skirt on legs,skirt on legs,
to you, some hardto you, some hard
down-on-me woman who mightdown-on-me woman who might
(or might not) yet(or might not) yet
be downed again.be downed again.
To him, an ass,To him, an ass,
to him, a breast, a legto him, a breast, a leg
to him.to him.
To that one, just another working bitch.To that one, just another working bitch.
To each, another history, to eachTo each, another history, to each
another (partial) lie.another (partial) lie.
We women are liars, you say.We women are liars, you say.
(It is written.)(It is written.)
But you have made us so.But you have made us so.
We are too much caught up in cycles, you say.We are too much caught up in cycles, you say.
But your gods cannot prevent that.But your gods cannot prevent that.
So we act out our cycles,So we act out our cycles,
one or many,one or many,
in the rhythm of what has to bein the rhythm of what has to be
(because we say so)(because we say so)
our common destiny.our common destiny.
And so, before you are taken in by one of ourAnd so, before you are taken in by one of our
perfect circles,perfect circles,
remember also that we are in perfectremember also that we are in perfect
motion.motion.
And when you (and you will)And when you (and you will)
run counter to the flow of revolution,run counter to the flow of revolution,
the wheel of women will continue to turn,the wheel of women will continue to turn,
and grind youand grind you
so fine.so fine.
Susan Saxe wrote this and other poems while she was living underground as a fugitive for 4½ years, during which time she was on the F.B.I.'s. Ten Most Wanted List for "overall radical activities." On March 27, 1975, she was arrested in Philadelphia and since then has been tried for allegedly taking part in a Boston bank robbery 7 years ago in which a policeman was killed. Saxe became "a feminist, a lesbian, a woman-identified woman" while underground. She is now in prison awaiting sentence.
Reprinted from Talk Among the Womanfolk, Susan Saxe, Philadelphia, Pa., 1976. Susan Saxe.