A Woman's Thought

I am a woman — therefore I may not

Call to him, cry to him,

Fly to him,

Bid him delay not!

Then when he comes to me, I must sit quiet;

Still as a stone —

All silent and cold.

If my heart riot —

Crush and defy it!

Should I grow bold.

Say one dear thing to him.

All my life fling to him,

Cling to him —

What to atone

Is enough for my sinning!

This were the cost to me.

This were my winning —

That he were lost to me.

Not as a lover

At last if he part from me,

Tearing my heart from me,

Hurt beyond cure —

Calm and demure

Then must I hold me,

In myself fold me.

Lest he discover;

Showing no sign to him

By look of mine to him

What he has been to me —

How my heart turns to him,

Follows him, yearns to him,

Prays him to love me.

Pity me, lean to me,

Thou God above me!