Bread and Roses

May Day May Day! I wish everyone a happy one. It's going to be sunny and hot here in Silly Icon Valley. To my Hawaiian friends I wish them a happy Lei Day. Hawaiians are wearing leis to work today - makes me want to be there. Anyway, in honor of May Day, here is a beautiful poem from James Oppenheim which I love. I have my problems with unions of today but also recognize their historic role in the liberation of struggling women. I would have marched with them, then.
May 1 is a day to remember that.

BREAD and ROSES

As we come marching, marching in the beauty of the day,
A million darkened kitchens, a thousand mill lofts gray,
Are touched with all the radiance that a sudden sun discloses,
For the people hear us singing: "Bread and roses! Bread and roses!"
As we come marching, marching, we battle too for men,
For they are women's children, and we mother them again.
Our lives shall not be sweated from birth until life closes;
Hearts starve as well as bodies; give us bread, but give us roses!

As we come marching, marching, unnumbered women dead
Go crying through our singing their ancient cry for bread.
Small art and love and beauty their drudging spirits knew.
Yes, it is bread we fight for -- but we fight for roses, too!

As we come marching, marching, we bring the greater days.
The rising of the women means the rising of the race.
No more the drudge and idler -- ten that toil where one reposes,
But a sharing of life's glories: Bread and roses! Bread and roses!
J.Oppenheim