IS WOMAN MAN’S EQUAL?

By Florence Goff Schwarz

Can she cull from the forest and mines and shape

A ship that will stand the gale?

Or fashion a monster of steel and steam

To writhe o’er the polished rail?

Can she conquer the forces of earth and air

To bend to her own sweet will?

Or current the water to furnish power

for the wheels of a giant mill?

Can she burrow the earth for a great subway?

Or chain up the lightning’s bars?

Or harness a jumble of wheels and wings

And soar to the distant stars?

Can she dig and delve while her brow reeks sweat

In the bowels of a fetid mine?

Can she face the powder and the shot and ball

Of the enemy’s firing line?

Can she sleep in a trench the whole night through

With a knapsack under her head?

Is she willing to die as soldiers do

On the field with the unclaimed dead?

Is She More Than Man’s Equal?

She cannot rear castle or tower

But, ah, when the sun sinks to rest,

She makes glad the beautiful hour

When home and its shelter in best

She may not meet all of life’s wrestle

In forum, in field and in mart,

But when sleepy little ones nestle,

She gathers them close to her heart.

And all that were bad are forgiven,

And blessed at the close of the day

With prayers and with tears, they are shriven

As only a mother can pray.

Secure from the paths that are tempted

She guides, by that wonderful plan

And law which her sex has pre-empted,

The course and the future of man.

Then who would deprive her of dower?

Or who would detract from her grace?

Or pilfer one tithe of her power

As mother—the Queen of the race?

Far greater than man, made immortal

By prowess, or chisel or pen,

Is she who approaches Death’s portal

That we may have soldiers and men.

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