Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE WHITE SLAVE, by PERCY STICKNEY GRANT


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE WHITE SLAVE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: She walks the streets offering herself for sale
Last Line: And soon her other needs will shrink to dope.
Subject(s): Prostitution; Harlots; Whores; Brothels


She walks the streets offering herself for sale.
Under her breath calls "Sweetheart," while her eyes
Are eloquent of all a saint denies,
And her slow feet nor pleasure nor toil avail.
So for each fragment of the night, a male
Unripe or rotten in her young arms lies
-- If, uncaught, she so long her traffic plies --
Hating her bed and fearful of the jail.
With day, her work being done, her stocking filled,
She hastens home to place her piteous store
In slaver hands -- lover, protector, hope.
His lust and greed her woman's soul have killed.
Slain motherhood lies pallid at her door;
And soon her other needs will shrink to dope.





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