George Sand

Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806–1861)

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.