My sister wrote a paper on Charlotte Perkins Gilman in grad school. I wonder if she ever came across this poem.


To Labor
By Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Shall you complain who feed the world?
      Who clothe the world?
      Who house the world?
Shall you complain, who are the world,
   Of what the world may do?
      As from this hour
      You use your power,
   The world must follow you!

The world's life hangs on your right hand,
      Your strong right hand!
      Your skilled right hand!
You hold the whole world in your hand—
   See to it what you do!
      Or dark or light,
      Or strong or right,
   The world is made by you!

Then rise, as you never rose before!
      Nor hoped before!
      Nor dared before!
And show, as you never showed before,
   The power that lies in you!
      Stand all as one!
      See justice done!
   Believe, and Dare, and Do!