<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">A Woman of Paris</h1><h1 align="center" class="head"><em>(September, 1914)</em></h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Retreating toward the Marne, his regiment</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Would pass at morn a neighboring suburb through;</p><p class="line">And thither walked his glad young wife, intent</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">To see her soldier, strong and brave and true;</p><p class="line">And in her arms, or pattering with light feet</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Beside her steps, she held her baby boy --</p><p class="line">O the proud moment when his eyes should greet</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Their little Victor brimming o'er with joy!</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Upon the curb she stood as past they filed,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">When something barred the way and, unawares,</p><p class="line">The march a moment stayed; then wife and child</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Saw, in the line, the father's friend, and theirs --</p><p class="line">And springing from the ranks, he seized her arm:</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:%">"Courage, courage, Madame! Your husband fell</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:%">Yesterday, by my side, at Maux...."</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:7%">Ah, well...</p><p class="line">Ah, well.. her eyelids closed, her heart stood still..</p><p class="line">What joy henceforth can wile, what grief can harm!..</p><p class="line">Then swift above her head, with deathless will,</p><p class="line">She raised her boy, presenting him, and cried</p><p class="line">For all her anguish, "Vive la France!"</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:7%">A thrill</p><p class="line">Ran through the throng, and with the line's advance</p><p class="line">Cheers filled the morning sky for her and France</p><p class="line">As if no soldier in his place had died!</p><p class="line">For France, secure, invincible, immortal,</p><p class="line">While women such as she are at its portal!</p></div><p class="byline">-- Edna Dean Proctor.<br xmlns:exist="http://exist.sourceforge.net/NS/exist" xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"/> The Glory of Toil.<br xmlns:exist="http://exist.sourceforge.net/NS/exist" xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"/> (Houghton-Mifflin Co.) </p></body></html> · Great War