A poem condemning the inability of Mexican men to defeat the invaders. The author declares that Mexican women, on the other hand, will be victorious, and urges Mexicans not to submit to "a shameful peace."
WHEN THE WOMEN
OPPOSE THE COWARDLY MEN.
Taylor is mistaken
If he thinks he can rule here:
He will rule over the men, yes
But the women . . . Never!
The Mexican republic
It is said, has eight million citizens,
Four who wear trousers
And four long dresses;
Taylor if you plan to rule
We believe you are a fool;
You will rule the trousers
But the gowns . . . Never!
If guns are replaced
With pincushions;
If petty quarrels are not forgotten
Along with neighborhood gossip,
Freedom will be lost
What will we see:
Slaves the men will be
But the women . . . Never!
If you think the present war
Is a civil war,
You are mistaken
Later you will see;
Efforts will be made in vain
By those who wish it to be so:
They can fool the men
The clever woman . . . Never!
If you fear the Yankees,
Terrified by their power
You will see women fight
And defend their right:
Patriotism in their hearts
This the Yankee will learn:
Polk can humiliate the men
But the women . . . Never!
They should tell us if they are afraid,
If they have exhausted their courage,
And Taylor we
Will conquer;
Defending our land,
We will die fighting:
The men will falter
But the women . . . Never!
May they exit the stage
Leaving us the gun,
Because if man is shameless
Let him admit it:
If he does not love Liberty
For which he has been fighting,
May he be oppressed,
The free women . . . Never!
If our men concede
To a shameful peace
Which the Yankees demand,
Our sex condemns it:
We will prove our mettle
When peace is rejected:
May the cowards accept it
The brave women . . . Never!
If male hearts
Succumb to fear,
May the wretches remember
There are women still
Who know how to fight
And know how to die
Man will be humbled
But the proud woman . . . Never!
San Luis Potosí: 1847.—State Press in the Palace, in the care of Ventura Carrillo.
