do you know you have asked for the cooliest 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 bars of my woman's soul
until i shall question thee.
you require your mutton shall always be hot,
your socks and your shirt be whole;
i require your heart 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 this 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 true,
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 grant 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.
