Poetry Archives

(”I am opposed to woman suffrage, but I am not opposed to
woman.”—Anti-suffrage speech of Mr. Webb of North
Carolina.)


O women, have you heard the news
  Of charity and grace?
Look, look, how joy and gratitude
  Are beaming in my face!
For Mr. Webb is not opposed
  To woman in her place!

O Mr. Webb, how kind you are
  To let us live at all,
To let us light the kitchen range
  And tidy up the hall;
To tolerate the female sex
  In spite of Adam’s fall.

O girls, suppose that Mr. Webb
  Should alter his decree!
Suppose he were opposed to us—
  Opposed to you and me.
What would be left for us to do—
  Except to cease to be?