A Woman's Reply to Men: A Parody
A Woman’s Reply to Men: A Parody

If life and love were ever new
And words of men were ever true,
These petty pleasures might me move
To live with one, a better love.

For men of sheep as lovers fail
As they travel through hill and vale
To find a poor, lost lamb of theirs
And think of love and things of air.

The flowers do fade, and fields fallow.
The love of men does turn shallow.
A honey tongue, a heart of gall
Has made some maidens to love fall.

Your gifts, your poems, the beds of roses,
A wariness in heart imposes.
Soon break, soon wither, soon forgotten,
The love of men does turn rotten.

The shine of gold and rosy buds,
The silver gifts and precious studs,
The petty pleasures do not move
A sensible woman to love.

Time does still hunt and Death does gain,
And the pleasures of men I fain refrain.
Your petty pleasures do not me move
To live with you and be your love.