Explore "False Play" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
"Do you love me? " asked the mother of her child, / And the baby answered, "No! " / Great Love listened and sadly smiled; / He knew the love in the heart of the child- / That you could not wake it so.
"Do not love me? " the foolish mother cried, / And the baby answered, "No! " / He knew the worth of the trick she tried- / Great Love listened, and grieving, sighed / That the mother scorned him so.
"Oh, poor mama! " and she played her part / Till the baby's strength gave way: / He knew it was false in his inmost heart, / But he could not bear that her tears should start, / So he joined in the lying play.
"Then love mama! " and the soft lips crept / To the kiss that his love should show,- / The mouth to speak while the spirit slept! / Great Love listened, and blushed, and wept / That they blasphemed him so.