Charlotte Perkins Gilman's In This Our World and Uncollected Poems

Ruined

U NC OL L E C T E D A N D O T H E R P OE M S | 151 John Burns is rich and feeds the world, The world will soon forget him; John Rockefeller, poor and lean, Licks all our fullest platters clean— It’s funny that we let him! (Impress, 9 February 1895, 4) Ruined I am ruined! sobbed the seed, As it fell, by free winds shaken; For the earth was dark indeed, All the light and heat were taken, All the birds’ songs and leaves’ laughter— Only silence followed after— Cold and darkness were its meed. I am ruined! cried the rock As it fell in fragments scattered, For its strength went with the shock. All its use on earth was shattered; All its grandeur and stern beauty, All its forest-bearing duty— Lost in many a shapeless block. I am ruined! wept the woman As she fell by Love’s beguiling, For her fate was fierce, inhuman; All hope vanished, sadly smiling, All the chance of reinstatement, Only shame without abatement, Endless shame for fallen woman. After seedtime came the sun, And warm rains of spring caressing, Till the seed that was but one Grew into a tree of blessing, Feeding, shading, emerald-suited Rosy-blossomed, golden-fruited— Joy of all it shone upon. The torn rock lay far and wide, Hammered sore and carved and hollowed Till a temple rose beside, And fair palaces that followed. Power and beauty crowned the portals, Shelter to a race of mortals— Long the rock was glorified. 152 | Uncollected and Other Poems And the woman? She rose brave, Learned new wisdom from old sorrow, Wide that costly wisdom gave For all helpless ones to borrow— Purer for the fiery trial, Stronger for the long denial, Soul re-made to help and save. (In This Our World, III, 124–25) Morning Think not of the morning as coming and going, Growing out of the dark, Growing into the day— While your place in the circle is lit by the glowing Which cometh and passeth away. But see the green circle still turning and turning, While the sun never faileth Wherever earth flies; The light poureth steady—the earth turneth ready— And the glory of morning on earth never dies. Like the crest of a wave combing white o’er green hollows, Sweeps the crest of the morning Around the green world, And dawn-music rolls up in the path that it follows With bright flowers unfolded and light wings unfurled. (In This Our World, III, 147) Women to Men. Relatives and Otherwise Dear father, from my cradle I acknowledge All your wise kindness, tender care, and love, Through days of kindergarten, school, and college. Now there is one gift lacking—one above All other gifts of God, this highest trust is, The one great gift, beyond all power and pelf— Give me my freedom, father; give me justice, That I may guard my children and myself. My brother, you and I were reared together; We played together, even-handed quite; We went to school in every kind of weather, Studied and ranked together as was right. We work together now and earn our living, You know how equal is the work we do; ...