The Battle of the Sexes

She would not put her lips in such a place,

As though the lawyers ground the regulations

Into giant searchlights and made the face

Of the moon proclaim her crazy notions.

She leaned into the wind and pursed her lips,

As though to blow the torrents back against

The power of her fate: she caused eclipse

And solar storm; she was incensed

By every cloud that stumbled through the night

And cursed the strength of women’s hips.

She would not bow to pressure; she would fight

The only way she knew—and all her slips

Of tongue were calculated to offend

The deepest held beliefs of foolish men.