Woman free

by Ellis Ethelmer

XXI.

For carnal servitude left cruel stain,

And galls that fester from the fleshly chain;

Unhealed the scars of man’s distempered greed,

The wounds of blind injustice still they bleed;

Recurrent suffering lets her not forget

The aimless payments of a dismal debt,—

Survival from dim age of man’s abuse

Of functions immature, profaned by savage use.