THE WOMEN
(By the Poetess the King quoted— Louise Haskins.)
in this great hour let us pray for the ■ women of our nation; For tlie women, in the Royal homes and those of lower station; For women honoured most of all as soldiers’ wives and mothers; And the women who send forth their friends, their lovers, and their brothers.
For the women who must stay at home and do the common caring For the welfare of the littio ones and the household burden-bearing; For the women in whoso motherhood the future generation Must find the nucleus of a now and consecrated nation.
For the women who go forth to work among the sick and dying, On whose strong heart an army’s need is trustfully relying; For the women who obey the call to share the country’s toiling, While men are saving land and home from hatred’s ruthless spoiling. For girls who have the gift of youth and privilege of beauty; For those who have the strength to serve in simple ways of duty; For the aged who have lived their day and found night’s gloom far-reaching; Now hear us as we pray, O Lord, and heed our heart’s beseeching; That sacrifice may be as bread, and pain as inspiration; That death may hold no sting of woe, nor graves mean life’s negation; That high ambitions fallen down, and secret hopes long cherished, May leave no pang of vain regret in hearts where they have perished.
That .homes be held a nation’s trust for men in peril deadly, And sacred kept the altar fires where burns love’s passion redly; That weariness ma;y not count much, nor waiting wear its longing, Save in the hope which sees through death to where brave souls are thronging. That naught which womanhood can do for manhood shall be wanted; In office, home, or hospital -nay spirits be undaunted. And with it all a quiet heart, a vision of Love’s splendour, Which keeps within the busy life the woman sweet and tender. Oh. God of Deborah and Ruth, 0 Fatherhood far-reaching, Now hear us as we voice our need and grant our heart’s beseeching.
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Bibliographic details
Evening Star, Issue 23527, 16 March 1940, Page 20
Word Count
358THE WOMEN Evening Star, Issue 23527, 16 March 1940, Page 20
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