This poem documents the struggle for women's suffrage and equality. It describes how women have historically been oppressed and denied basic rights like voting that men took for granted. The poem expresses women's frustration at being seen as inferior and unable to participate in politics despite their many contributions to society through their roles as mothers and homemakers. It hopes that future generations of women may one day achieve justice and independence.

1. The Women’s Suffrage
DAWN OF THE VOTING ACT

2. It is us women,
Toiling from the start of age,
Working for no salary,
Earning no wage.
Our gender matters,
But not our race,
We are same as other women,
The same space & place.
Why cannot we vote?
Is this the age of men?
Are the only things that we are
good at,
Paper & pen?

3. Are men more superior?
More liable, more strong?
If only we were that capable,
That freedom, we long.
Told to stay in standard,
Do normal things,
Is that for our gender,
To just tie apron strings?
We are equals of men,
Our birth just as good,
Are we treated equally,
Or just misunderstood?

4. Men that claim strength,
Came out of our wombs,
We were who fed them,
And who gave them a room.
We are the mark of society,
Bringers of mankind,
Just like an architect,
And buildings that he designed.
We create the population,
Generations, we found,
We create the people,
To walk upon this ground.

5. We provide the men,
And to them, the food.
All we ask in exchange,
Is just an alter in mood.
We milk the cows,
And kill animals for meat,
We serve men dinner,
Without thanks, they eat.
We are invisible,
Society’s backbone.
We ask to be included,
They reply,
With sarcasm in their tone.

6. They see woman as frail,
A toy, an object,
Without caring for words,
And on them, their effect.
Are women citizens,
Of this mighty land?
When we ask men,
We are valued, like sand.
We are, if we pay taxes,
To their prime minister.
If we don’t, regarded we are,
As something sinister.

7. However,
Citizens we are not,
When we do not write a note,
Citizens we are not,
When we are asked to vote.
They think we’re unimportant,
And empty is our mind.
Our ears hear nothing save gossip,
Our eyes, are just blind.
But been happening has this,
For a very long time,
Now we only exchange,
In greetings, and for a dime.

8. Does law concern women?
Only if to obey,
If way there is another,
Then all we can do, is pray.
We are required to pay money,
To work the heartless land.
But punished are us race,
If weather does not go as planned.
All we do is to give,
But never do we take,
For what is done when we refuse,
At that, my heart shall shake.

9. Can women participate,
Or in elections, take place?
No! When it comes to law,
Elections for women,
have no space.
What is not in a woman,
That it is, in a man?
Are we all different groups?
Many separate clans?
The same has happened,
Through history & through age.
Women have never been royal,
Noble, Minister or a Sage.

10. But now, as I grow old,
From my days of oppression,
I ask those people,
A simple question.
Give us once a chance,
And to you, we will prove,
All these doubts on women,
We will definitely remove.
Cannot you give us this chance,
After centuries of injustice?
For once in this lifetime,
All I simply want to see is justice.

11. And as I lose my sight,
And as my soul is lost,
I think about my life,
And what about it’s cost?
I hear now rumors,
That reach these frail old ears,
That women may be independent,
Among the major men’s cheers.
I fear for them that this may not come,
I give them from my reserves hope.
That this might happen, and should it
not,
That they would be able to cope.

12. The Background
Women did not have a right to vote until 1902. In Victoria, this
was granted much later in 1907. However, the Aboriginals
continued to not have the right to vote until the mid-20th
Century. During these times, Women actively participated
in movements to grant them their freedom and make their
rights equal to those of the men.
In 1889, the Australian Woman’s Suffrage Society started. This
was continued by many other movements in the following
years. In 1891, 30000 signatures were presented to the
Victorian State Government for voting . This was an
important milestone in the calendar of all women alike- of
any race, age, background or culture.

13. Where did I here about this from?
 I heard about this competition from a teacher in
Parramatta Marist High School who encouraged us to
enter this competition. This school is in Westmead,
Australia.