Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, AN APPEAL TO WOMEN, by SARAH LOUISA FORTEN


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

AN APPEAL TO WOMEN, by                    
First Line: Oh, woman, woman, in thy brightest hour
Last Line: Upon the altar of immortal fame.
Alternate Author Name(s): Ada
Subject(s): Abolitionists; Slavery; Women; Anti-slavery; Serfs


Oh, woman, woman, in thy brightest hour
Of conscious worth, of pride, of conscious power
Oh, nobly dare to act a Christian's part,
That well befits a lovely woman's heart!
Dare to be good, as thou canst dare be great;
Despise the taunts of envy, scorn and hate;
Our 'skins may differ,' but from thee we claim
A sister's privilege, in a sister's name.

We are thy sisters, - God has truly said,
That of one blood, the nations he has made.
Oh, Christian woman, in a Christian land,
Canst thou unblushing read this great command?
To draw one throb of pity on thy part;
'Our skins may differ,' but from thee we claim
A sister's privilege, in a sister's name.

Oh, woman! - though upon thy fairer brow
The hues of roses and of lilies glow -
These soon must whither in their kindred earth,
From whence the fair and dark have equal birth.
Let a bright halo o'er thy virtues shed
A lustre, that shall live when thou art dead;
Let coming ages learn to bless thy name
Upon the altar of immortal fame.




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