Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TO MICHAL: SONNETS AFTER MARRIAGE: 7. ON DOMESTIC GOVERNMENT, by CHARLES WILLIAMS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TO MICHAL: SONNETS AFTER MARRIAGE: 7. ON DOMESTIC GOVERNMENT, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: In the forgotten time ere mankind grew
Last Line: Of my command and your obedience.
Subject(s): Marriage; Weddings; Husbands; Wives


IN the forgotten time ere mankind grew
Out of its strife with beasts and birds of prey,
When the quick women were the first who knew
What possible danger scented them each day,
Were they not also first to understand
The burden and unhappiness of choice,
And, with alert evasion, subtly planned
To leave it to men's heavier minds? their voice
Proclaimed us masters, governors, and lords,
And kept alone the passive right to blame
If things went wryly: thus with flattering words
They freed themselves—being still so much the same
That you (fie, Sweet!) renew their old pretence
Of my command and your obedience.





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