A woman's question
Do
you know you have asked for the costliest thing
Ever
made by the hand above?
A
woman’s heart, and a woman’s life-
And
a woman’s wonderful love.
Do
you know you have asked for this priceless thing
As
a child might ask for a toy?
Demanding
what others have died to win,
With
the reckless dash of a boy.
You
have written my lesson of duty out;
Manlike,
you have questioned me.
Now
stand at the bar of my woman’s soul
Until
I shall question thee.
You
require your mutton shall be always hot,
Your
socks and your shirt be whole;
I
require your heart to be true as God’s stars
And
as pure as His heaven your soul.
You
require a cook for your mutton and beef,
I
require a far greater thing;
A
seamstress you’re wanting for socks and shirts-
I
look for a man and a king.
A
king for the beautiful realm called Home,
And
a man that his Maker, God,
Shall
look upon as He did on the first
And
say: “It is very good.”
I
am fair and young, but the rose may fade
From
my soft young cheek one day;
Will
you love me then ‘mid the falling leaves,
As
you did ‘mong the blossoms of May?
Is
your heart an ocean so strong and deep,
I
may launch my all on its tide?
A
loving woman finds heaven or hell
On
the day she is made a bride.
I
require all things that are grand and true,
All
things that a man should be;
If
you give this all, I would stake my life
To
be all you demand of me.
If
you cannot be this, a laundress and cook
You
can hire and little to pay;
But
a woman’s heart and a woman’s life
Are not to be won that way.
Lena Lathrop
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