INHERITANCE

You said to me: “My father did not weep,
Nor my grandfather weep". I heard you say:
“No man of all my race has ever wept,;
of steel were they”.

And thus upon my trembling mouth I felt
The poison of your bitter teardrop fall,
Worse potion than my lips have ever quaffed
From a cup so small.

Weak woman, born all grief to comprehend,
I drank the pain of ages infinite;
But oh, my wretched soul cannot support
The weight of it!