Poetry Archives

(A woman engineer has been dismissed by the Board of Education, under
their new rule that women shall not attend high pressure boilers,
although her work has been satisfactory and she holds a license to
attend such boilers from the Police Department.)


Lady, dangers lurk in boilers,
  Risks I could not let you face.
Men were meant to be the toilers,
  Home, you know, is woman’s place.
Have no home? Well, is that so?
Still, it’s not my fault, you know.

Charming lady, work no more;
  Fair you are and sweet as honey;
Work might make your fingers sore,
  And, besides, I need the money.
Prithee rest,—or starve or rob—
Only let me have your job!