Explore "The Edict of the Sex" by Ella Wheeler Wilcox on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
Two thousand years had passed since Christ was born, / When suddenly there rose a mighty host / Of women, sweeping to a central goal / As many rivers sweep on to the sea. / They came from mountains, valleys, and from coasts, / And from all lands, all nations, and all ranks, / Speaking all languages, but thinking one. / And that one language-Peace.
‘Listen,' they said, / And straightway was there silence on the earth, / For men were dumb with wonder and surprise. / ‘Listen, O mighty masters of the world, / And hear the edict of all womankind: / Since Christ His new commandment gave to men, / _Love one another_, full two thousand years / Have passed away, yet earth is red with blood. / The strong male rulers of the world proclaim / Their weakness, when we ask that war shall cease. / Now will the poor weak women of the world / Proclaim their strength, and say that war shall end. / Hear, then, our edict: Never from this day / Will any woman on the crust of earth / Mother a warrior. We have sworn the oath / And will go barren to the waiting tomb / Rather than breed strong sons at war's behest, / Or bring fair daughters into life, to bear / The pains of travail, for no end but war. / Ay! let the race die out for lack of babes / Better a dying race than endless wars! / Better a silent world than noise of guns / And clash of armies.