| Poems by Women |
MY SHARE OF THE WORLD
I am jealous: I am true:
Sick at heart for love of you,
O my share of
the world!
I am cold, O, cold as stone
To all men save you alone.
Seven times slower creeps the day
When your face is far away,
O my
share of the world!
Seven times darker falls the night.
When you gladden
not my sight.
Measureless my joy and pride
Would you choose me for your bride,
O my
share of the world!
For your face is my delight,
Morn and even, noon and
night.
To the dance and to the wake
Still I go but for your sake,
O my share
of the world!
Just to see your face awhile
Meet your eyes and win your
smile.
And the gay word on my lip
Never lets my secret slip
To my share of the
world!
Light my feet trip over the green -
But my heart cries in the
keen!
My poor mother sighs anew
When my looks go after you,
O my share of the
world!
And my father's brow grows black
When you smile and turn your
back.
I would part with wealth and ease,
I would go beyond the seas,
For my
share of the world!
I would leave my hearth and home
If he only whispered
"Come!"
Houseless under sun and dew,
I would beg my bread with you,
O my share
of the world!
Houseless in the snow and storm,
Your heart's love would
keep me warm.
I would pray and I would crave
To be with you in the grave,
O my share
of the world!
I would go through fire and flood,
I would give up all but
God
For my share of the world!
From: Stevenson, Burton Egbert.
The Home Book of Verse.
This poet:
[Author index]
This collection assembled by Jone Johnson Lewis.
Collection © 1999-2002 Jone Johnson Lewis.
Citing poems from these pages:
| Author. "Poem Title." Women's History: Poems by Women. Jone Johnson Lewis, editor. URL: (date of logon) |
