Poetry.

White Ribbon, Volume 1, Issue 9, 1 March 1896, Page 4

Poetry.

Motherhood.* “In this sign Bhalt thou conquer!” Motherhood! Which from the primal, fitful, straggling track Of man's scarce-noticed onward path, has ever Pointed upwards • • • * • • • • She stvs how Nature Ha* lnvn set aside- Nature, who reckons Not with those who break her laws, but straight sends Chastisement—Nature, who through the symt»ol Clear of parentage, gave ever equal rule To women and to men, o'ae furnishing What other lacked; so should joint counsel ever Perfect prove. All this, and more, doth woman Daily see, and seeing, longs to work with Head and heart, and inspiration from within; Ixmgs to take active share as Mother, there Where Mothers’ voices should be heard. * * ' For her Her dearest * Property ” must ever l*c Her sons and daughters, those incarnate rays Of the great Spirit, whose mysterious work Within her bosom she with joy has felt. Law must mean equal rights to every son And daughter born. Law must mean all must work. All, too have seasons to enjoy and rest, And all have share in sunlight, land, and food. She will brand none base-born whose soul God gave; Will take the so-caUad bastard by the hand And set it by the law-acknowledged child, Seeing no difference when* Nature sets No mark. She will forbid the taking of Her U)ys for war—for every man-child killed, Or here, or there, cost mother-pangs, and for That thought his life to her is dear. She will Refuse the name of '* Honoured Wife,*' the while In forced dishonour c )witless sisters live ; For each soul, prostitute through man-made laws, Cries helpless to th’ awakened Mother Soul, And shall not cry in vain. * * * When* Mother’s love Abounds naught is too small, too frail, to ’scape Her sheltering care; and when full Motherhood lias sway Mothers in many lands shall knit The bonds of Love, which selfish men have broke. The priest and priestess shall work side by side; Together shall they hand the torch of Truth To sons and daughters seeking for the Light, Gathered in ages past, to blend with that Which brighter, fuller, freer gltams, as each New generation pierces through the gloom. When universal “ Motherhood ” exists, Then “Universal Brotherhood” is nigh. D ILM. • Al'iid^ed.