Classic Poem

Serene she sat, full grown in human power,
Established in the service of the world,
Full-hearted, rich, strong with the age's life,
Wise with the womanhood of centuries,
With broad still brows and deep eyes lit beneath
With fire of inextinguishable love,
In beauty which the study of a life
Would fail to measure—beauty as of hills
Or the heart-stilling wonder of the sea

Then came her lovers, awed and passionate,
With naught to offer she had not as much
Save only—manhood Lovers made by God
To offer to her final power of choice
Their natural tribute of diverging gifts,
The man's inherent variance of growth,
That she, by choosing, build a better race.
Theirs the resistless longing to fulfill
Their nature's primal law at any cost,
The one great purpose of their parted life;
Love their first cause, love their determined end

So she, from ardent, emulous appeal,
After the inner ruling of her heart
Chose him of all best mated to herself,
Best qualified to glorify The Child—
For this was she made woman—not for him