Read "Poor Human Nature" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
I saw a meagre, melancholy cow, / Blessed with a starveling calf that sucked in vain; / Eftsoon he died. I asked the mother how-? / Quoth she, "Of every four there dieth twain! " / Poor bovine nature!
I saw a sickly horse of shambling gait, / Ugly and wicked, weak in leg and back, / Useless in all ways, in a wretched state. / "We're all poor creatures! " said the sorry hack. / Poor equine nature!
I saw a slow cat crawling on the ground, / Weak, clumsy, inefficient, full of fears, / The mice escaping from her aimless bound. / Moaned she, "This truly is a vale of tears! " / Poor feline nature!
Then did I glory in my noble race, / Healthful and beautiful, alert and strong, / Rejoicing that we held a higher place / And need not add to theirs our mournful song,- / Poor human nature!