MothersBy Charlotte Perkins Gilman(See page 280)(From “The Forerunner.”)
By Charlotte Perkins Gilman
(See page 280)
(From “The Forerunner.”)
We are mothers. Through us in our bondage,Through us with a brand in the face,Be we fettered with gold or with iron,Through us comes the race.See the people who suffer, all people!All humanity wasting its powersIn the hand-to-hand struggle—death-dealing—All children of ours!Shall we bear it? we mothers who love them?Can we bear it? we mothers who feelEvery pang of our babes and forgive themEvery sin when they kneel?Dare ye sleep while your children are calling?Dare ye wait while they clamor unfed?Dare ye pray in the proud-pillared churchesWhile they suffer for bread?Rise now in the power of the woman!Rise now in the power of our need!The world cries in hunger and darkness!We shall light! We shall feed!In the name of our ages of anguish!In the name of the curse and the slain!By the strength of our sorrow we conquer!In the power of our pain!
We are mothers. Through us in our bondage,Through us with a brand in the face,Be we fettered with gold or with iron,Through us comes the race.See the people who suffer, all people!All humanity wasting its powersIn the hand-to-hand struggle—death-dealing—All children of ours!Shall we bear it? we mothers who love them?Can we bear it? we mothers who feelEvery pang of our babes and forgive themEvery sin when they kneel?Dare ye sleep while your children are calling?Dare ye wait while they clamor unfed?Dare ye pray in the proud-pillared churchesWhile they suffer for bread?Rise now in the power of the woman!Rise now in the power of our need!The world cries in hunger and darkness!We shall light! We shall feed!In the name of our ages of anguish!In the name of the curse and the slain!By the strength of our sorrow we conquer!In the power of our pain!
We are mothers. Through us in our bondage,Through us with a brand in the face,Be we fettered with gold or with iron,Through us comes the race.
We are mothers. Through us in our bondage,
Through us with a brand in the face,
Be we fettered with gold or with iron,
Through us comes the race.
See the people who suffer, all people!All humanity wasting its powersIn the hand-to-hand struggle—death-dealing—All children of ours!
See the people who suffer, all people!
All humanity wasting its powers
In the hand-to-hand struggle—death-dealing—
All children of ours!
Shall we bear it? we mothers who love them?Can we bear it? we mothers who feelEvery pang of our babes and forgive themEvery sin when they kneel?
Shall we bear it? we mothers who love them?
Can we bear it? we mothers who feel
Every pang of our babes and forgive them
Every sin when they kneel?
Dare ye sleep while your children are calling?Dare ye wait while they clamor unfed?Dare ye pray in the proud-pillared churchesWhile they suffer for bread?
Dare ye sleep while your children are calling?
Dare ye wait while they clamor unfed?
Dare ye pray in the proud-pillared churches
While they suffer for bread?
Rise now in the power of the woman!Rise now in the power of our need!The world cries in hunger and darkness!We shall light! We shall feed!
Rise now in the power of the woman!
Rise now in the power of our need!
The world cries in hunger and darkness!
We shall light! We shall feed!
In the name of our ages of anguish!In the name of the curse and the slain!By the strength of our sorrow we conquer!In the power of our pain!
In the name of our ages of anguish!
In the name of the curse and the slain!
By the strength of our sorrow we conquer!
In the power of our pain!