Page 55 - Poetry-Romance

“But if poet, artist, thinker,
Lend me some inspiring thought,
Must it follow that the duty
Of the woman is forgot?
No; ‘tis you who err, believe me,
Thinking, as perchance you do,
That because her brain is empty,
Woman’s heart must beat more true.

“ ‘Tis not learning that unsexes,
‘Tis not thought will make us cold,
Nor at sight of heavy volumes
Love on us relax his hold.
Woman is for ever woman;
O’er her life love rules supreme,
Though his kingdom be but fancy,
And the bliss he gives a dream.

“Nought besides, however worthy,
In her heart can take his place—
But enough! The child is frightened
At the graveness of my face.
I must bring him back to laughter
Pray you, leave us for a time,
Or you’ll hear a Girton student
Teaching him a nursery rhyme.”

— Catherine Grant Furley (Girl’s Own Paper, 1887)

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