 | Poems Chiefly Lyric and Elegiac |  |
64
THE MILKWOMAN.
She was tall and strong, and she walk'd along
With a firm substantial tread,
Like one who knows that wherever she goes
She is earning her daily bread.
With a firm substantial tread,
Like one who knows that wherever she goes
She is earning her daily bread.
Her frock was print, and there was not a hint
In the whole of her simple dress
Of that milliner's touch which adds so much
To a lady's comeliness.
In the whole of her simple dress
Of that milliner's touch which adds so much
To a lady's comeliness.
Yet she is aware that her face is fair;
But she also understands
That the best of her charms are her stout red arms
And her strong hard-working hands.
But she also understands
That the best of her charms are her stout red arms
And her strong hard-working hands.
65
‘It's them,’ says she, ‘as has work'd for me
Wherever my work have been;
And as for my face, why it's no disgrace,
For I reckon it's always clean.
Wherever my work have been;
And as for my face, why it's no disgrace,
For I reckon it's always clean.
‘Well, there's Jack, I know, as bothers me so—
But what do I care for him?
I'll ha' nothing to say to a lad that's gay,
So long as I've life and limb.
But what do I care for him?
I'll ha' nothing to say to a lad that's gay,
So long as I've life and limb.
‘Such chaps may do for a wench like you,
As is fond of a easy life;
But if I get a man, I shall do what I can
For to make him a working wife.’
As is fond of a easy life;
But if I get a man, I shall do what I can
For to make him a working wife.’
She smiled as she spoke, and she settled her yoke
On the back of her shoulders broad;
And she stoop'd to her pails by the area rails
And harness'd herself to her load.
On the back of her shoulders broad;
And she stoop'd to her pails by the area rails
And harness'd herself to her load.
Then she went on her beat through the bustling street
With a step like a martial man's;
A step that suits her iron-shod boots
And the weight of her clanking cans.
With a step like a martial man's;
A step that suits her iron-shod boots
And the weight of her clanking cans.
66
For her cans and she have the bulk of three;
And deftly as she may steer,
'Tis the silent might of her strength and her height
That keeps the footway clear.
And deftly as she may steer,
'Tis the silent might of her strength and her height
That keeps the footway clear.
There were many who eyed her stately stride,
As she moved through the yielding crowd
With her hands on her hips, and a smile on her lips,
And a look both calm and proud:
As she moved through the yielding crowd
With her hands on her hips, and a smile on her lips,
And a look both calm and proud:
But none, or few, of those gazers knew
The worth of her humble trade;
And beauty alone may never atone
For the lot of a milkman's maid.
The worth of her humble trade;
And beauty alone may never atone
For the lot of a milkman's maid.
They could not see, what was clear to me,
That the loftiest lady there
Might envy the part in Dame Nature's heart
That is own'd by Kitty Clare.
That the loftiest lady there
Might envy the part in Dame Nature's heart
That is own'd by Kitty Clare.
| Poems Chiefly Lyric and Elegiac | |