one

For this

We call her

Saint.

And well-deserved

as Sainthoods go.

But are we worshipping

the Deed

or

Jeanne, the girl?

Had Jeanne but lived today, Joan Brown, American, And spent the same youth on a Texas farm

Then reached New York

to fight a cause

today as great as then,

What would we say?

How would we feel

to see

A healthy, big-boned girl, long and straight of limb,

sure of purpose,

Who walks

West 4th Street

With a clean and honest face

framed by a boy's

and

haircut

a white sports shirt

serviceable

tucked neatly in

a well creased pair

of khaki chinos.

Perhaps

her stride's

a bit

Her gait,

too long

not delicate.

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