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. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...DRUMS AND BRASS by DONALD (GRADY) DAVIDSON THE BURIAL OF BOSTON CORBETT (ONE WARDEN TO ANOTHER) by EDGAR LEE MASTERS THINGS ARE WHAT THEY SEEM by MARIANNE MOORE STREET WINDOW by CARL SANDBURG ELEGY: THE LITTLE GHOST WHO DIED FOR LOVE; FOR ALLANAH HARPER by EDITH SITWELL |