Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE MOTHER'S CHARGE, by CHARLOTTE PERKINS STETSON GILMAN


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE MOTHER'S CHARGE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: She raised her head. With hot and glittering eye
Last Line: Her daughter died in turn, and made one more.
Alternate Author Name(s): Stetson, Charlotte Perkins
Subject(s): Housekeeping; Mothers; Women


She raised her head. With hot and glittering eye,
'I know,' she said, 'that I am going to die.
Come here, my daughter, while my mind is clear.
Let me make plain to you your duty here;
My duty once - I never failed to try -
But for some reason I am going to die.'
She raised her head, and, while her eyes rolled wild,
Poured these instructions on the gasping child:

'Begin at once - don't iron sitting down -
Wash you potatoes when the fat is brown -
Monday, unless it rains - it always pays
To get fall sewing done on the right days -
A carpet-sweeper and a little broom -
Save dishes - wash the summer dining-room
With soda - keep the children out of doors -
The starch is out - beeswax on all the floors -
If girls are treated like your friends they stay -
They stay, and treat you like their friends - the way
To make a home happy is to keep a jar -
And save the prettiest pieces for the star
In the middle - blue's too dark - all silk is best -
And don't forget the corners - when they're dressed
Put them on ice - and always wash the chest
Three times a day, the windows every week -
We need more flour - the bedroom ceilings leak -
It's better than onion - keep the boys at home -
Gardening is good - a load, three loads of loam -
They bloom in spring - and smile, smile always, dear -
Be brave, keep on - I hope I've made it clear.'

She died, as all her mothers died before.
Her daughter died in turn, and made one more.




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