INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY, OSLO 1978

8. MARCH

they marched in the gray slop
that is the eighth of March
Women's Day in Oslo
bannered red and burning bright
in long street-wide lines

Youngstorget
past the city hall

up Carl Johan
puzzling the grand cafeers
around Kirkeristen
Grensen
the university square

freedom
the signs said
freedom and equality
six hour work days
free nursery schools
Palestine Eritrea Equality
freedom freedom

freedom he read
lesbians he said
all you lesbians need
is a good fuck

even drunk he knew
that women's liberation
had something to do
with his testacles
freedom he said
lesbians

cruddy lousy neckdripping smallsnow

and long long lines
of young all young
women and men
baby-buggies and banners

she cheated
oh lovely
long woman
on crutches
and cut across
Stortoget
with her husband
and child

burning bright

want to buy
some porno
playboy pictures
he said
smart-ass grinning

all he needs

where have you been
Trina said
marching too
you have stars in your hair
it's lovely

yeah

--Conrad Røyksund
March 1978

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