A Woman's Answer To A Man's Question

A Woman's Answer To A Man's Question
[Written in reply to a man's poetic unfolding of what he conceived to be a woman's duty.]

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, 
Man-like you have questioned me; 
Now stand at the bar 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 to be true as God's stars, 
And as pure as heaven your soul. 

You require a cook for your mutton and beef; 
I require a far better 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 the maker, God, 
Shall look upon as he did the first 
And say, "It is very good." 

I am fair and young, but the rose will fade 
From my soft, young cheek one day, 
Will you love me then 'mid the falling leaves, 
As you did 'mid the bloom 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 all this, I would stake my life 
To be all you demand of me. 

If you cannot do this — a laundress and cook 
You can hire, with little to pay, 
But a woman's heart and a woman's life 
Are not to be won that way.

~by Mary T. Lathrap

What Every Woman Must Not Say -- Alice Duer Miller

What Every Woman Must Not Say

“I don’t pretend I’m clever,” he remarked, “or very wise,”
And at this she murmured, “Really,” with the right polite surprise.

“But women,” he continued, “I must own I understand;
Women are a contradiction—honorable and underhand—

Constant as the star Polaris, yet as changeable as Fate,
Always flying what they long for, always seeking what they hate.”

“Don’t you think,” began the lady, but he cut her short: “I see
That you take it personally—women always do,” said he.

“You will pardon me for saying every woman is the same,
Always greedy for approval, always sensitive to blame;

Sweet and passionate are women; weak in mind, though strong in soul;
Even you admit, I fancy, that they have no self-control?”

No, I don’t admit they haven’t,” said the patient lady then,
“Or they could not sit and listen to the nonsense talked by men.”