Classic and Contemporary Poetry
WIVES, by DOUGLAS MALLOCH Poet's Biography First Line: I think no husband comprehends Last Line: She bears her own, and equal, share. Subject(s): Marriage; Weddings; Husbands; Wives | ||||||||
I think no husband comprehends The life of woman, she who 'tends His house and home, the busy wife Who has her own, her humble strife, Like him who leads the larger life. Refreshed, each morning man will rise, Go forth to meet the dawning skies, Go forth where victories are found, Where bugles blare and cymbals sound, While she takes up the daily round. His life is color, motion, change, Each day's experiences strange; New faces, pleasures, problems, plans, The ever-passing caravans Of busy earth -- this life is man's. Today is like her yesterday, With simple labor, simple play, To her whose part it is to keep The cottage -- mend, and bake, and sweep, And sew white linen for his sleep. She has her problems none the less Than you in all your world of stress -- The children's ills, and all the things That ev'ry day to woman brings, For ev'ry light some shadow flings. And so tonight, when you come home From that wide world that husbands roam, Remember all the day she stood, Made holy by her motherhood, To guard your home and keep it good. The father absent, she has been Both father, mother -- safe from sin Has kept the children you embrace. Your house you build, but woman's grace Has made your house a holy place. You bring your wife a hurried kiss; But, husband, bring her more than this: Whatever heavy load you bear, Tell her tonight you know, and care, She bears her own, and equal, share. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A BLESSING FOR A WEDDING by JANE HIRSHFIELD A SUITE FOR MARRIAGE by DAVID IGNATOW ADVICE TO HER SON ON MARRIAGE by MARY BARBER THE RABBI'S SON-IN-LAW by SABINE BARING-GOULD KISSING AGAIN by DORIANNE LAUX A TIME PAST by DENISE LEVERTOV A DIFFERENT WAY by DOUGLAS MALLOCH |
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