| Thomas R. Lounsbury, ed. (1838–1915). Yale Book of American Verse. 1912. |
| |
| Richard Watson Gilder. 1844–1909 |
| |
| 215. A Woman's Thought |
| |
| I AM a woman—therefore I may not | |
| Call to him, cry to him, | |
| Fly to him, | |
| Bid him delay not! | |
| |
| Then when he comes to me, I must sit quiet; | 5 |
| Still as a stone— | |
| All silent and cold. | |
| If my heart riot— | |
| Crush and defy it! | |
| Should I grow bold, | 10 |
| Say one dear thing to him, | |
| All my life fling to him, | |
| Cling to him— | |
| What to atone | |
| Is enough for my sinning! | 15 |
| This were the cost to me, | |
| This were my winning— | |
| That he were lost to me. | |
| |
| Not as a lover | |
| At last if he part from me, | 20 |
| Tearing my heart from me, | |
| Hurt beyond cure— | |
| Calm and demure | |
| Then must I hold me, | |
| In myself fold me, | 25 |
| Lest he discover; | |
| Showing no sign to him | |
| By look of mine to him | |
| What he has been to me— | |
| How my heart turns to him, | 30 |
| Follows him, yearns to him, | |
| Prays him to love me. | |
| |
| Pity me, lean to me, | |
| Thou God above me! | |
|
|
