(For a coin, for the weaving of my children’s lace and lawn),

Feet that pace beside the loom, hands that cannot rest—

How can she know motherhood, whose strength is gone?

I who took no heed of her, starved and labor-worn,

I, against whose placid heart my sleepy gold-heads lie,

Round my path they cry to me, little souls unborn—

God of Life! Creator! It was I! It was I!

THE TWO DYINGS

I can remember once, ere I was dead,

The sorrow and the prayer and bitter cry