I am a woman — therefore I may not 
Call to him, cry to him, 
Fly to him, 
Bid him delay not! 

Then when he comes to me, I must sit quiet; 
Still as a stone — 
All silent and cold. 
If my heart riot — 
Crush and defy it! 
Should I grow bold. 
Say one dear thing to him. 
All my life fling to him, 
Cling to him — 
What to atone 
Is enough for my sinning! 
This were the cost to me. 
This were my winning — 
That he were lost to me. 

Not as a lover 
At last if he part from me, 
Tearing my heart from me, 
Hurt beyond cure — 
Calm and demure 
Then must I hold me, 
In myself fold me. 
Lest he discover; 
Showing no sign to him 
By look of mine to him 
What he has been to me — 
How my heart turns to him, 
Follows him, yearns to him, 
Prays him to love me. 

Pity me, lean to me, 
Thou God above me!