  I think it were better to thoughtfully pause, And consider one moment a woman’s “Because,” Than to smile in a high supercilious way, As though all were said, she could possibly say. I think, if a miracle were to disclose The thoughts, that behind this one word arose, And marshalled themselves, each bearing its part, Some straight from the head, some straight from the heart; That you who can glibly and easily speak, For utterance-word having seldom to seek, Sometimes saying more than you mean; and again Speaking carelessly, heedless to whom you give pain; If such insight were granted unto you, I say You would hush your heart in a startled way, For behind the brief word, to your great surprise, Reason and logical thinking would rise. Impulses, springing from Truth’s hidden laws, Oft underlying a woman’s “Because”! ’Tis not there is little, but so much, to tell, That she fails to express herself clearly and well; And the Age is so new wherein candor and grace Dare acknowledge themselves from the selfsame place. While the virtue impressed on Aileen is Repression, Through childhood and maidenhood, taught to conceal, The woman oft finds it hard to reveal Most earnest conviction, and loftiest thought, With opinions of weightiest import inwrought. While in this New Age there are questions, involving The fate of the race, which await her resolving, She dare not yet speak, untutored and callow, Lest her speaking appear pedantic or shallow. None so keen as herself, in herself to find flaws, Thus, though feeling and knowing, she answers—“Because!” Then too, that is hers, which men call Intuition, As though books alone revealed true erudition; —What ’tis called, matters not—it exists—and its naming Is unworthy alike either praising or blaming; By its light, woman’s gaze pierces clouds strangely riven; And a clearer perception unto her is given Of all that is noble and worthily leal, Than you have beheld in your fairest ideal. Thus, even if language were hers, to express Just what her soul sees, nothing more, nothing less; It were useless to speak, for none would commend, The many would scoff, and few comprehend! Not till “Cause and Effect” have recognised laws, Can you possibly fathom a woman’s “Because!” |
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