Fair And Tender Ladies

Herring Caroline

You write about a place so dear 
In all it's good and evil 
A loving cup, an aching scar 
You need no thread and needle 
To sew your name into your clothes 
Or hem a ragged line 
All muscular and luminous 
Oh heroine of mine 

Ladies Oh ladies 
My ladies 
My fair and tender ladies 

You raised yourself from mud and spit 
And opened up your eyes 
Stretching out your graceful limbs 
From heart and soul on fire 
From sidewalks and handlebars 
Summer sun and evening stars 
And unincorporated streets 
Oh heroine I long to meet 

Ladies Oh ladies 
My ladies 
My fair and tender ladies 

Ladies 

You set aside your trays and flowers 
Like a ball and chain 
You understood a time and place 
Upon which you proclaimed 
Your skirt was not to hide behind 
Your womanhood no alibi 
You would not live so man could die 
Oh white-gloved heroine of mine 

Ladies Oh ladies 
My ladies 
My fair and tender ladies