"Think what a price to pay,
Faces so bright and gay,
Just for a hat!
Flowers unvisited, mornings unsung,
Sea-ranges bare of the wings that o'erswung
Bared just for that!
"Think of the others, too,
Others and mothers, too,
Bright-Eyes in hat!
Hear you no mother-groan floating in air,
Hear you no little moan birdling's despair
Somewhere, for that?
"Caught 'mid some mother-work,
Torn by a hunter Turk,
Just for your hat!
Plenty of Mother-heart yet in the world !
All the more wings to tear, carefully twirled
Women want that!
"Oh, but the shame of it,
Oh, but the blame of it.
Price of a hat!
Just for a jauntiness brightening the street!
This is your halo, O faces so sweet
Death ; and for that!"