After a quarrel, a woman asks her lover to stop arguing and just sleep, as before. She calls words wild and their debate like a hawk on a bough. She wants stillness—cheek on cheek—and warns that prying into truth can feel as treacherous as the serpent in Eden. She asks him to be both a god who charms her and a man who simply holds her. Then she offers a full surrender: she will learn to speak his speech, think his thoughts, and place her body and soul in his hands—but not tonight. Tonight she must grieve a little, weep, then fall asleep loved by him. The mood is tender, exhausted, and quietly sorrowful. The speaker yields, but her sadness is still raw; sleep becomes both a refuge and a final act of trust. Browning paints the hush after conflict, where one partner retreats into submission tinged with pain.
A Woman's Last Word — Summary
Let's contend no more, Love, Strive nor weep: All be as before, Love, --Only sleep!
What so wild as words are? I and thou In debate, as birds are, Hawk on bough!
See the creature stalking While we speak! Hush and hide the talking, Cheek on cheek.
What so false as truth is, False to thee? Where the serpent's tooth is, Shun the tree--
Where the apple reddens, Never pry-- Lest we lose our Edens, Eve and I.
Be a god and hold me With a charm! Be a man and fold me With thine arm!
Teach me, only teach, Love! As I ought I will speak thy speech, Love, Think thy thought--
Meet, if thou require it, Both demands, Laying flesh and spirit In thy hands.
That shall be to-morrow, Not to-night: I must bury sorrow Out of sight:
--Must a little weep, Love, (Foolish me!) And so fall asleep, Love, Loved by thee.