To George Sand: A Recognition

True genius, but true woman! dost deny	
Thy woman's nature with a manly scorn	
And break away the gauds and armlets worn	
By weaker women in captivity?	
Ah, vain denial! that revolted cry	        
Is sobbed in by a woman's voice forlorn—	
Thy woman's hair, my sister, all unshorn	
Floats back dishevelled strength in agony	
Disproving thy man's name: and while before	
The world thou burnest in a poet-fire,	        
We see thy woman-heart beat evermore	
Through the large flame. Beat purer, heart, and higher,	
Till God unsex thee on the heavenly shore,	
Where unincarnate spirits purely aspire!

This poem is in the public domain.