a woman's question

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.