90105: 'Whereas most women . . .'

<p dir="ltr"> Whereas most women live this difficult life<br> Merely in order not to die the death<br> And take experience as they take their breath,<br> Accepting backyards, travail, crusts, all naïf;<br> And nothing greatly love, and nothing loathe---<br> Others there are who seemingly forget<br> That men build walls to shelter from the wet,<br> For sustenance take meals, for comfort clothe.<br> These must embellish every act with grace;<br> These eat for savours; dress to show their lace;<br> Suppose the earth for gardens; hands for nard.<br> Now which you hold as higher than the other<br> Depends, in fine, on whether you regard<br> The poetess as nobler than the Mother.</p><p>CPF vol. 1, p. 81 (#68): Probably written in 1915, this sonnet exists only in a transcript from a MS since lost. Transcript, p. 222<br>OEF/ELG</p>