IMMORTALITY
IMMORTALITY
When I was grass, perhaps I may have weptAs every year the grass blades paled and sleptOr shrieked in anguish impotent beneathThe smooth impartial cropping of greatteeth—I don’t remember much what came to passWhen I was grass.When I was monkey, I’m afraid the treesWeren’t always havens of contented ease;Things killed us and we never could tell why;No doubt we blamed the earth or sea orsky—I have forgotten my rebellion’s shapeWhen I was ape.Now I have reached the comfortable skinThis stage of living is enveloped in,And hold the spirit of my mighty raceSelf-conscious prisoner under one whiteface—I’m awfully afraid I’m going to die,Now I am I.When I was man, no doubt I used to careAbout the little things that happened there,And fret to see the years keep going by,And nations, families and persons die,I didn’t much appreciate life’s planWhen I was man.Charlotte Perkins Gilman.
When I was grass, perhaps I may have weptAs every year the grass blades paled and sleptOr shrieked in anguish impotent beneathThe smooth impartial cropping of greatteeth—I don’t remember much what came to passWhen I was grass.When I was monkey, I’m afraid the treesWeren’t always havens of contented ease;Things killed us and we never could tell why;No doubt we blamed the earth or sea orsky—I have forgotten my rebellion’s shapeWhen I was ape.Now I have reached the comfortable skinThis stage of living is enveloped in,And hold the spirit of my mighty raceSelf-conscious prisoner under one whiteface—I’m awfully afraid I’m going to die,Now I am I.When I was man, no doubt I used to careAbout the little things that happened there,And fret to see the years keep going by,And nations, families and persons die,I didn’t much appreciate life’s planWhen I was man.Charlotte Perkins Gilman.
When I was grass, perhaps I may have weptAs every year the grass blades paled and sleptOr shrieked in anguish impotent beneathThe smooth impartial cropping of greatteeth—I don’t remember much what came to passWhen I was grass.
When I was grass, perhaps I may have wept
As every year the grass blades paled and slept
Or shrieked in anguish impotent beneath
The smooth impartial cropping of greatteeth—
I don’t remember much what came to pass
When I was grass.
When I was monkey, I’m afraid the treesWeren’t always havens of contented ease;Things killed us and we never could tell why;No doubt we blamed the earth or sea orsky—I have forgotten my rebellion’s shapeWhen I was ape.
When I was monkey, I’m afraid the trees
Weren’t always havens of contented ease;
Things killed us and we never could tell why;
No doubt we blamed the earth or sea orsky—
I have forgotten my rebellion’s shape
When I was ape.
Now I have reached the comfortable skinThis stage of living is enveloped in,And hold the spirit of my mighty raceSelf-conscious prisoner under one whiteface—I’m awfully afraid I’m going to die,Now I am I.When I was man, no doubt I used to careAbout the little things that happened there,And fret to see the years keep going by,And nations, families and persons die,I didn’t much appreciate life’s planWhen I was man.Charlotte Perkins Gilman.
Now I have reached the comfortable skin
This stage of living is enveloped in,
And hold the spirit of my mighty race
Self-conscious prisoner under one whiteface—
I’m awfully afraid I’m going to die,
Now I am I.
When I was man, no doubt I used to care
About the little things that happened there,
And fret to see the years keep going by,
And nations, families and persons die,
I didn’t much appreciate life’s plan
When I was man.
Charlotte Perkins Gilman.