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164 | Uncollected and Other Poems For This New Year As human creatures in a human world What should we pray? To be more human for each others’ sake, To make ourselves more human, and help make The world that way. As woman creatures in a woman’s world, What should we give? Give mother love to every baby there, Protection, and true teaching, and right care, To all who live. As women in a world of warring men, What should be do? Prove in achievement, wisdom, love and power, Claim and fulfil the duty of the hour— Prove the claim true. As housekeepers and servants of the house, What do we need? To learn a truth all human life has shown— No woman liveth to herself along— Can so succeed. As members of one vital growing race, What is our part? To feel the common power, the common pride, The common love and joy, that fill so wide The human heart. (Woman’s Journal, 2 January 1904, 2) The Clam and the Lark “I am happy,” said the clam, “I can suck! Sitting softly, sinking slowly In the muck. I am very fat and well— Nothing hurts me—see my shell! Nothing worries me at all; Simple is the world, and small; And I’ve not a thing to do Save to let the dirt run through. Other people seek and strive— I am glad to be alive. They’d have dinner free and fine Had they simple tastes like mine. U NC OL L E C T E D A N D O T H E R P OE M S | 165 There’s no end of pleasant muck— I can suck.” “I am happy,” said the lark, “I can sing! Rising swiftly, rising strongly On the wing. Thank the Lord for food and rest, For the safe and dainty nest, For the little brood below And sweet wife who loves me so! Thank Him more that I can see, Beyond all that comes to me, Flower-gemmed earth so warm and fair, The gold sunshine and blue air! Thank Him most for heights unending And the glory of ascending! Thank the lord for power of wing And power to sing!” (Woman’s Journal, 9 January 1904, 10) Coming Because the time is ripe, the age is ready, Because the world her woman’s help demands, Out of the long subjection and seclusion Come to our field of warfare and confusion The mother’s heart and hands. Long has she stood aside, endured and waited, While man swung forward, toiling on alone; Now, for the weary man, so long ill-mated, Now, for the world for which she was created, Comes woman to her own. Not for herself! though sweet the air of freedom; Not for herself! though dear the new-born power; But for the child, who needs a nobler mother, For the whole people, needing one another, Comes woman to her hour. (Woman’s Journal, 16 January 1904, 18) The “Old” Woman Don’t talk to me of modern wives— “Advanced,” “progressive,” “new”— And the dreadful “coming woman” So forced upon my view! ...

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