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Ada Cambridge - The Virgin Martyr
Work rating: Medium

Every wild she-bird has nest and mate in the warm April weather,
But a captive woman, made for love — no mate, no nest has she.
In the spring of young desire, young men and maids are wed together,
And the happy mothers flaunt their bliss for all the world to see:
Nature`s sacramental feast for these — an empty board for me.

I, a young maid once, an old maid now, deposed, despised, forgotten —
I, like them have thrilled with passion and have dreamed of nuptial rest,
Of the trembling life within me of my children unbegotten,
Of a breathing new-born body to my yearning bosom prest,
Of the rapture of a little soft mouth drinking at my breast.

Time, that heals so many sorrows, keeps mine ever freshly aching;
Though my face is growing furrowed and my brown hair turning white,
Still I mourn my irremediable loss, asleep or waking —
Still I hear my son`s voice calling "mother" in the dead of night,
And am haunted by my girl`s eyes that will never see the light.

O my children that I might have had! my children, lost for ever!
O the goodly years that might have been — now desolate and bare!
O malignant God or Fate, what have I done that I should never
Take my birthright like the others, take the crown that women wear,
And possess the common heritage to which all flesh is heir?
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