A Woman’s Question Poem by Adelaide Anne Procter
A Woman’s Question
BEFORE I trust my fate to thee,
Or place my hand in thine,
Before I let thy future give
Color and form to mine,
Before I peril all for thee, question thy soul to-night for me.
I break all slighter bonds, nor feel
A shadow of regret:
Is there one link within the Past
That holds thy spirit yet?
Or is thy faith as clear and free as that which I can pledge to thee?
Does there within thy dimmest dreams
A possible future shine,
Wherein thy life could henceforth breathe,
Untouch’d, unshar’d by mine?
If so, at any pain or cost, O, tell me before all is lost.
Look deeper still. If thou canst feel,
Within thy inmost soul,
That thou hast kept a portion back,
While I have stak’d the whole;
Let no false pity spare the blow, but in true mercy tell me so.
Is there within thy heart a need
That mine cannot fulfil?
One chord that any other hand
Could better wake or still?
Speak now—lest at some future day my whole life wither and decay.
Lives there within thy nature hid
The demon-spirit Change,
Shedding a passing glory still
On all things new and strange?
It may not be thy fault alone—but shield my heart against thy own.
Couldst thou withdraw thy hand one day
And answer to my claim,
That Fate, and that to-day’s mistake—
Not thou—had been to blame?
Some soothe their conscience thus; but thou wilt surely warn and save me now.
Nay, answer not,—I dare not hear,
The words would come too late;
Yet I would spare thee all remorse,
So, comfort thee, my fate—
Whatever on my heart may fall—remember, I would risk it all!
A beautifully written poem, reflecting the youth of the poet in her words. 10
Superb poem..............A thought provoking and points to ponder on.....10
Confession before tying the knots, is okay. But confession after tying the knot often lead to nought. A beautiful composition.
break all slighter bonds, nor feel A shadow of regret: Is there one link within the Past Beautiful poem. Thanks for the sharing.
Great bit of philosophical poesy here. A pre-nub sounding nothing but commitment. I think the poet's reticence with romantic language leads me to believe it was a pre-arranged marriage, but she's willing to give it her all. She risks all. What's his risk but a miserable wife is things don't work out.
To-day's mistake! Thanks for sharing this poem with us.
Nay, answer not, —I dare not hear, The words would come too late; Yet I would spare thee all remorse, So, comfort thee, my fate— Whatever on my heart may fall—remember, I would risk it all! nice poem.
Is there within thy heart a need That mine cannot fulfil? One chord that any other hand Could better wake or still? Nicely penned. 10
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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4/25/2024 9:19:27 AM # 1.0.0.1119
Women and men should ask themselves these questions to focus their hearts on their vows before they give their vows. Self-truth might spare themself and their mate a life of misery and pain