She Who Is to Come

(From “In This Our World”)

By Charlotte Perkins Gilman

A woman—in so far as she beholdeth

Her one Beloved’s face;

A mother—with a great heart that enfoldeth

The children of the Race;

A body, free and strong, with that high beauty

That comes of perfect use, is built thereof;

A mind where Reason ruleth over Duty,

And Justice reigns with Love;

A self-poised, royal soul, brave, wise, and tender,

No longer blind and dumb;

A Human Being, of an unknown splendor,

Is she who is to come!