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

Two Callings

160 | Uncollected and Other Poems Two Callings I I hear a deep voice through uneasy dreaming, A deep, soft, tender, soul-beguiling voice; A lulling voice that bids the dreams remain, That calms my restlessness and dulls my pain, That thrills and fills and holds me till in seeming There is no other sound on earth—no choice. “Home!” says the deep voice, “Home!” and softly singing Brings me a sense of safety unsurpassed; So old! so old! The piles above the wave— The shelter of the stone-blocked, shadowy cave— Security of sun-kissed treetops swinging— Safety and Home at last! “Home” says the sweet voice, and warm Comfort rises, Holding my soul with velvet-fingered hands; Comfort of leafy lair and lapping fur, Soft couches, cushions, curtains, and the stir Of easy pleasures that the body prizes, Of soft, swift feet to serve the least commands. I shrink—half rise—and then it murmurs “Duty!” Again the past rolls out—a scroll unfurled; Allegiance and long labor due my lord— Allegiance in an idleness abhorred— I am the squaw—the slave—the harem beauty— I serve and serve, the handmaid of the world. My soul rebels—but hark! a new note thrilling, Deep, deep, past finding—I protest no more; The voice says “Love!” and all those ages dim Stand glorified and justified in him; I bow—I kneel—the woman soul is willing— “Love is the law. Be still! Obey! Adore!” And then—an, then! The deep voice murmurs “Mother!” And all life answers from the primal sea; A mingling of all lullabies; a peace That asks no understanding; the release Of nature’s holiest power—who seeks another? Home? Home is Mother—Mother, Home—to me. “Home!” says the deep voice; “Home and Easy Pleasure! Safety and Comfort, Laws of Life well kept! Love!” and my heart rose thrilling at the word; “Mother!” it nestled down and never stirred; “Duty and Peace and Love beyond all measure! Home! Safety! Comfort! Mother!”—and I slept. U NC OL L E C T E D A N D O T H E R P OE M S | 161 II A bugle call! A clear, keen, ringing cry, Relentless—eloquent—that found the ear Through fold on fold of slumber, sweet, profound— A widening wave of universal sound, Piercing the heart—filling the utmost sky— I wake—I must wake! Hear—for I must hear! “The World! The World is crying! Hear its needs! Home is a part of life—I am the whole! Home is the cradle—shall a whole life stay Cradled in comfort through the working day? I too am Home—the Home of all high deeds— The only Home to hold the human soul! “Courage!—the front of conscious life!” it cried; “Courage that dares to die and dares to live! Why should you prate of safety? Is life meant In ignominious safety to be spent? Is Home best valued as a place to hide? Come out, and give what you are here to give! “Strength and Endurance! of high action born!” And all that dream of Comfort shrank away, Turning its fond, beguiling face aside: So Selfishness and Luxury and Pride Stood forth revealed, till I grew fierce with scorn, And burned to meet the dangers of the day. “Duty? Aye, Duty! Duty! Mark the word!” I turned to my old standard. It was rent From hem to hem, and through the gaping place I saw my undone duties to the race Of man—neglected—spurned—how had I heard That word and never dreamed of what it meant! “Duty! Unlimited—eternal—new!” And I? My idol on a petty shrine Fell as I turned, and Cowardice and Sloth Fell too, unmasked, false Duty covering both— While the true Duty, all-embracing, high, Showed the clear line of noble deeds to do. And then the great voice rang out to the sun, And all my terror left me, all my shame, While every dream of joy from earliest youth Came back and lived!—that joy unhoped was truth, All joy, all hope, all truth, all peace grew one, Life opened clear, and Love? Love was its name! 162 | Uncollected and Other Poems So when the great word “Mother!” rang once more, I saw at least its meaning and its place; Not the blind passion of the brooding past, But Mother—the World...