Ah, Heaven! How soon my body will be old !

I powder and I perfume and I tire

With the long wasting of my one desire.

I choose fair colors, furs, and antique gold

To draw men's eyes and hands, and yet how cold,

How careless are their eyes. I see the fire

Flame from my neighbor, and I can aspire

To only friendship. I have tried the bold,

The luring attitude, the timid mien,

The boyish, wise, or simple, all in vain.

I know the women laugh at me, but oh,

How can I let my dreamed perfection go ?

I am a woman, I must have a man

Only to ratify my nature's plan.