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!