Aldonza

My lady...
 I am not your lady!...
 I am not any kind of a lady!
 I was spawned in a ditch
 By a mother who left me there,
 Naked and cold and too hungry to cry;
 I never blamed her.
 I'm sure she left hoping
 That I'd have the good sense to die!
 Then, of course, there's my father...
 I'm told that young ladies
 Can point to their fathers
 With maidenly pride;
 Mine was some regiment
 Here for an hour,
 I can't even tell you which side!
 So of course I became,
 As befitted my delicate birth,
 The most casual bride
 Of the murdering scum of the earth!
 And still thou art my lady.
 And still he torments me!
 How should I be a lady?
 For a lady has modest and maidenly airs,
 And a virtue I somehow suspect that I lack;
 It's hard to remember these maidenly airs
 In a stable laid flat on your back!
 Won't you look at me, look at me,
 God, won't you look at me!
 Look at the kitchen slt reeking with sweat!
 Born on a dung heap to die on a dung heap,
 A strumpet men use and forget!
 If you feel that you see me
 Not quite at my virginal best,
 Cross my palm with a coin,
 And I'll willingly show you the rest!
 Never deny thou art Dulcinea.
 Take the clouds from your eyes
 And see me as I really am!
 You have shown me the sky,
 But what good is the sky
 To a creature who'll never
 Do better than crawl?
 Of all the cruel bastards
 Who've badgered and battered me,
 You are the cruelest of all!
 Can't you see what your gentle
 Insanities do to me?
 Rob me of anger and give me despair! Blows and abuse
 I can take and give back again,
 Tenderness I cannot bear!
 So please torture me now
 With your "Sweet Dulcineas" no more!
 I am no one! I'm nothing!
 I'm only Aldonza the whore!
 Now and forever thou art my lady Dulcinea!