A Woman's Answer to a Man's Question

by Lena Lathrop

Source of witness transcribed: The Tiffin Tribune (Tiffin, Ohio)

Date of witness transcribed: 26 January 1871

Notes about this poem: "A Woman's Answer to a Man's Question" was printed in at least 242 newspapers during the nineteenth century. It can be found using ID 545870 in this table of most widely-reprinted poems.

It often was reprinted without the author's name.

§

• Do you know you have asked for the costliest thing
• Ever made by the hand above?
• A woman’s heart and a woman’s life—

• And a woman’s wonderful love?

• Do you know you have asked for the priceless thing
• As a child might ask for a toy?
• Demanding what others have died to win,

• With the reckless dash of a boy?

• You have written my lesson of duty out—
• Man-like you have questioned me;
• Now stand at the bar of woman’s soul,

• Until I shall question thee.

• You require your mutton shall be always hot,
• Your socks and shirts be whole;
• I require your heart to be true as a God’s stars,

• And pure as Heaven your soul.

• You require a cook for your mutton and beef,
• I require a far greater thing;
• A seamstress you’re wanting for sock and for shirts,

• I look for a man and a king—

• A king for the beautiful realm called home,
• And a man that the Maker, God
• Shall look upon as He did on the first,

• And say, “It is very good.”

• I am fair and young, but the rose will fade,
• From my soft, young cheek one day—
• Will you love me then ‘mid the falling leaves

• As you did ‘mong the blooms of May?

• Is your heart an ocean so strong and deep
• I may launch my all on its tide!
• A loving woman finds heaven or hell

• On the day she is made a bride.

• I require all things that are good and true,
• All things that a man should be;
• If you give this all, I would stake my life

• To be all you demand of me.

• If you cannot be this—a laundress and cook
• You can hire, with little to pay;
• But a woman’s heart and a woman’s life
• Are not to be won that way.