John Greenleaf Whittier: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

A Woman

John Greenleaf Whittier

“A Woman” as printed in The Complete Poetical Works of John Greenleaf Whittier (1895).

John Greenleaf Whittier: Collected Lyrics Text 15 1895 · historical text
Public domainBalladAmerican song
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from The Complete Poetical Works of John Greenleaf Whittier, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

Oh, dwarfed and wronged, and stained with ill,

Behold! thou art a woman still!

And, by that sacred name and dear,

I bid thy better self appear.

Still, through thy foul disguise, I see

The rudimental purity,

That, spite of change and loss, makes good

Thy birthright-claim of womanhood;

An inward loathing, deep, intense;

A shame that is half innocence.

Cast off the grave-clothes of thy sin!

Rise from the dust thou liest in,

As Mary rose at Jesus’ word,

Redeemed and white before the Lord!

Reclaim thy lost soul! In His name,

Rise up, and break thy bonds of shame.

Art weak? He ’s strong. Art fearful? Hear

The world’s O’ercomer: “Be of cheer!”

What lip shall judge when He approves?

Who dare to scorn the child He loves?

Credits

Written by John Greenleaf Whittier

Words by John Greenleaf Whittier. Historical text published in The Complete Poetical Works of John Greenleaf Whittier (1895); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

The Complete Poetical Works of John Greenleaf Whittier (1895), “A Woman”

Every text in this 1895 collected edition is by John Greenleaf Whittier (1807-1892), who died more than 133 years ago, so the text is in the public domain worldwide; the edition carries a Wikisource PD-old determination.

How to read this historical text and its source

Read the source on Wikisource

View copyright evidence · Transcription terms (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Retrieved 2026-10-27. Line spacing and section labels are adapted for reading. The displayed text follows the linked edition. Editorial notes and abstract artwork are by 52lyrics.
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