Explore "Songs" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
I.
O world of green, all shining, shifting! / O world of blue, all living, lifting! / O world where glassy waters smoothly roll! / Fair earth, and heaven free, / Ye are but part of me- / Ye are my soul!
O woman nature, shining, shifting! / O woman creature, living, lifting! / Come soft and still to one who waits thee here! / Fair soul, both mine and free, / Ye who are part of me, / Appear! Appear!
II.
How could I choose but weep? / The poor bird lay asleep; / For lack of food, for lack of breath, / For lack of life he came to death- / How could I choose but weep?
How could I choose but smile? / There was no lack the while! / In bliss he did undo himself; / Where life was full he slew himself- / How could I choose but smile?
Would ye but understand! / Joy is on every hand! / Ye shut your eyes and call it night, / Ye grope and fall in seas of light- / Would ye but understand!