Relic
In two decades,
This shirt—
Black cotton with a pink fist
Urging “Keep Abortion Safe and Legal”—
Will be a relic.
Either…
Purchased from a thrift store,
Where it hangs between others
Reading “Black Lives Matter” and “Save the Earth”
Bought by a twenty-something
And worn ironically
As a reminder of that time
Before the uprising
When a group of desperate men
Tried to repeal women’s rights.
Or…
Brought down from an attic
Where it has been hidden in a box
Neatly folded next to a rainbow flag
Saved by a forty-something
And worn defiantly
As an act of rebellion
She can be arrested
Just for leaving the house
With it on her highly-regulated body.
5 thoughts on "Relic"
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“Relic” is the perfect title for this timely poem
Yup perfect title.
Powerful poem.
Yes, please let’s go for the uprising! Heavy poem. Well done!
Tuli Kupferberg once said to me “live as though the revolution has already happened” but that was back in the 60’s— yet that idea seems like a mind set to redial up again into consciousness over all the things we care about.
Your poem illuminates wars we thought were won and the politics of care…and how yesterdays relics can become tomorrows flags…or something like that. your poem is powerful and broke through to something. Thank you
Great title. And it’s interesting to image these times in the future. Tee-shirts! Yes.