Women must weep By Prof. F. Harald Williams [i.e. F. W. O. Ward]. First Edition |
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“HAVE WE NOT ALL ONE FATHER?” |
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 | Women must weep |  |
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“HAVE WE NOT ALL ONE FATHER?”
One heaven is over all,
One earth beneath our feet,
One gospel bids us with its call
Within one temple meet;
One heart, that cannot rest
Below its native stars,
Is prison'd in each human breast,
And beats against its bars;
Folly may sated be
With falsehood's glittering wraith,
And knaves have many gods, but we
One Father and one faith.
One earth beneath our feet,
One gospel bids us with its call
Within one temple meet;
One heart, that cannot rest
Below its native stars,
Is prison'd in each human breast,
And beats against its bars;
Folly may sated be
With falsehood's glittering wraith,
And knaves have many gods, but we
One Father and one faith.
The publican who stands
Nor dares upraise his head,
But lifts the soil'd and sorrowing hands
In prayer for living bread;
Dives with painted roof,
In court or reverend see,
Who in his purple pride aloof
Plays the old Pharisee;
Though this conceal his shame,
And that no pity find,
Yet both from one Creator came,
And have one tempted mind.
Nor dares upraise his head,
But lifts the soil'd and sorrowing hands
In prayer for living bread;
Dives with painted roof,
In court or reverend see,
Who in his purple pride aloof
Plays the old Pharisee;
Though this conceal his shame,
And that no pity find,
Yet both from one Creator came,
And have one tempted mind.
The Pariah, with the stain
Upon her woman's brow,
Who bears alone the curse and pain
From someone's broken vow;
The Peeress in her lace,
Who hides the brand within,
And while she flaunts a modest face
Yet hugs her splendid sin;
Both, in their different lines,
Have one weak, erring will,
And for them both God's mercy shines,
And sisters are they still.
Upon her woman's brow,
Who bears alone the curse and pain
From someone's broken vow;
The Peeress in her lace,
Who hides the brand within,
And while she flaunts a modest face
Yet hugs her splendid sin;
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Have one weak, erring will,
And for them both God's mercy shines,
And sisters are they still.
The humblest and most high,
If some may lowly count,
Both send to God one earthly sigh,
Both drink one heavenly fount;
And should the world be cold,
Or trust be sorely tried,
For all expands a common fold,
For all one Brother died;
Yea, though the Levite blame,
And priests their thunders roll,
The outcast with the harlot frame
May have a virgin soul.
If some may lowly count,
Both send to God one earthly sigh,
Both drink one heavenly fount;
And should the world be cold,
Or trust be sorely tried,
For all expands a common fold,
For all one Brother died;
Yea, though the Levite blame,
And priests their thunders roll,
The outcast with the harlot frame
May have a virgin soul.
The drudge with fingers seam'd,
Who sweeps the dusty room,
On whom no hope has ever gleam'd,
And early marked for doom;
Who never knew her flesh
Was sanctuary of the Lord,
And falls in the first easy mesh,
To glut the hangman's cord;
Is one with jewell'd sloth,
That dresses, dances, sings,
Swears endless love and breaks its troth,
Meant for eternal things.
Who sweeps the dusty room,
On whom no hope has ever gleam'd,
And early marked for doom;
Who never knew her flesh
Was sanctuary of the Lord,
And falls in the first easy mesh,
To glut the hangman's cord;
Is one with jewell'd sloth,
That dresses, dances, sings,
Swears endless love and breaks its troth,
Meant for eternal things.
The daughter of the earth,
Who savours of the soil,
From the grim failing fight with dearth,
Unsex'd by beast-like toil;
Who once has fallen, and yet
Chafes at the abhorrèd chain,
And from her shroud of black regret
Would rise and bloom again,
Is one with purest saint,
Who steadfast always stood,
If soul and body reek with taint,
In one great brotherhood.
Who savours of the soil,
From the grim failing fight with dearth,
Unsex'd by beast-like toil;
Who once has fallen, and yet
Chafes at the abhorrèd chain,
And from her shroud of black regret
Would rise and bloom again,
Is one with purest saint,
Who steadfast always stood,
If soul and body reek with taint,
In one great brotherhood.
| Women must weep | |