Bequest of a Great Woman

Inexperienced in the act of crusading, nonetheless she lead the way
Reasonably independent in thinking yet dutiful to a fault
Decades of wrongs against us gave her restless nights
And devotedly, she embraced the cause to abolish all forms of prejudice against us
Day and night, she toured and toiled searching for an answer
She was unstoppable in fighting for a cause she believed in
Nothing that would better our lot escaped her attention
It was difficult to determine her pedigree because she stood and spoke for all regardless of creed, race, colour, class and affiliation.

Barred but undeterred, she decried the denial of our natural rights
Down to earth in her delicate style, she for all time caused a helpful steer
Amidst her contemporaries, her tranquility and enigmatic charisma stood her out
Endeared to many, she drew great awe and admiration
So much too, that her magical presence and influence subdued even the most cynical male chauvinist
In the face of impending opposition from their delusional superior intellects, silence was never an option
Her efforts were steadfast and her voice could not be drowned
With her soft but compelling words and deeds, she helped unleash our long silenced voices

Her ostensibly fragile frame was a vessel of selfless energy
Steadily, she carried us over the towering walls that once left us shrouded
In contented triumph, her unswerving days of radical activism and agitations ended
Freeing us from the shackles of slavery, drudgery, silence, repression
The ripples she stirred and her big shoes were her priced possessions
Willingly she handed them down to us,
Navigating the way forward, and dancing in those shoes we are creating ripples too
Today, we celebrate because a Great woman struggled and prevailed.