Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/07/22
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]A Hymn to Him Lerner and Lowe, 1956 HIGGINS What in all of heaven could've prompted her to go, After such a triumph as the ball? What could've depressed her; What could've possessed her? I cannot understand the wretch at all. Women are irrational, that's all there is to that! There heads are full of cotton, hay, and rags! They're nothing but exasperating, irritating, vacillating, calculating, agitating, Maddening and infuriating hags! [To Pickering] Pickering, why can't a woman be more like a man? PICKERING Hmm? HIGGINS Yes... Why can't a woman be more like a man? Men are so honest, so thoroughly square; Eternally noble, historic'ly fair; Who, when you win, will always give your back a pat. Well, why can't a woman be like that? Why does ev'ryone do what the others do? Can't a woman learn to use her head? Why do they do ev'rything their mothers do? Why don't they grow up- well, like their father instead? Why can't a woman take after a man? Men are so pleasant, so easy to please; Whenever you are with them, you're always at ease. Would you be slighted if I didn't speak for hours? PICKERING Of course not! HIGGINS Would you be livid if I had a drink or two? PICKERING Nonsense. HIGGINS Would you be wounded if I never sent you flowers? PICKERING Never. HIGGINS Well, why can't a woman be like you? One man in a million may shout a bit. Now and then there's one with slight defects; One, perhaps, whose truthfulness you doubt a bit. But by and large we are a marvelous sex! Why can't a woman take after like a man? Cause men are so friendly, good natured and kind. A better companion you never will find. If I were hours late for dinner, would you bellow? PICKERING Of course not! HIGGINS If I forgot your silly birthday, would you fuss? PICKERING Nonsense. HIGGINS Would you complain if I took out another fellow? PICKERING Never. HIGGINS Well, why can't a woman be like us? [To Mrs. Pearce] Mrs. Pearce, you're a woman... Why can't a woman be more like a man? Men are so decent, such regular chaps. Ready to help you through any mishaps. Ready to buck you up whenever you are glum. Why can't a woman be a chum? Why is thinking something women never do? Why is logic never even tried? Straight'ning up their hair is all they ever do. Why don't they straighten up the mess that's inside? Why can't a woman behave like a man? If I was a woman who'd been to a ball, Been hailed as a princess by one and by all; Would I start weeping like a bathtub overflowing? And carry on as if my home were in a tree? Would I run off and never tell me where I'm going? Why can't a woman be like me? The answer--or, as the Chinese curse goes, may you get what you wish. http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=2452929 M3, 50 Elmar 3.5 Red Scale, K64 Jim Shulman Bryn Mawr, PA