Poem by Charlotte Perkins Gilman (Stetson)

Boys Will Be Boys

"Boys will be boys," and boys have had their day;
  Boy-mischief and boy-carelessness and noise
Extenuated all, allowed, excused and smoothed away,
  Each duty missed, each damaging wild act,
  By this meek statement of unquestioned fact–
          Boys will be boys!

Now, "women will be women." Mark the change;
  Calm motherhood in place of boisterous youth;
No warfare now; to manage and arrange,
  To nurture with wise care, is woman's way,
  In peace and fruitful industry her sway,
          In love and truth.

1. Wedded Bliss
2. Song for Equal Suffrage
3. To the Indifferent Women
4. Locked Inside
5. A Conservative

Print

1568 Views

Last Poems

To Russian version