All workers in near lands and afar
let us not forget that ugly day in
Chicagoland, the struggles so bizarre
when the Haymarket riot had been.
That May Day clash between the workers,
the police and strikebreakers awoke.
Nary one of the workers was a shirker.
Whilst upon the podium, the strikebreakers spoke.
The Haymarket Affair created panic and hysteria,
which increased anti-labor and foreign-born
hate all around, a plight worse than malaria.
While the employers groused and became more forlorn.
|
| Writing Prompt |
Write a 12 line poem for May Day (the first day of May)
no haiku suites, limerick suites, or 575 suites/ any other style ok
no vulgar words, sex, or profanity
Poetry Only |
Author Notes
Poem format: abab/ cdcd/ efef
Historical note: The Haymarket Affair, also known as the Haymarket Riot, was a violent confrontation between police and labor protesters in Chicago on May 4, 1886, that became a symbol of the international struggle for workers' rights. It has been associated with May Day (May 1) since that day was designated as International Workers Day by the Second International in 1889.
|
|
