 | The poetical works of James Montgomery |  |
No. I. THE COMPLAINT.
Who loves the climbing boy? Who cares
If well or ill I be?
Is there a living soul that shares
A thought or wish with me?
If well or ill I be?
Is there a living soul that shares
A thought or wish with me?
I've had no parents since my birth,
Brothers and sisters none,
Ah! what to me is all this earth,
Where I am only one?
Brothers and sisters none,
Ah! what to me is all this earth,
Where I am only one?
I wake and see the morning shine,
And all around me gay;
But nothing I behold is mine,
No, not the light of day;—
And all around me gay;
But nothing I behold is mine,
No, not the light of day;—
No, not the very breath I draw;
These limbs are not my own;
A master calls me his by law,—
My griefs are mine alone:
These limbs are not my own;
A master calls me his by law,—
My griefs are mine alone:
Ah! these they could not make him feel—
Would they themselves had felt
Who bound me to that man of steel,
Whom mercy cannot melt!
Would they themselves had felt
Who bound me to that man of steel,
Whom mercy cannot melt!
Yet not for wealth or ease I sigh,
All are not rich and great;
Many may be as poor as I,
But none so desolate.
All are not rich and great;
Many may be as poor as I,
But none so desolate.
For all I know have kin and kind,
Some home, some hope, some joy;
But these I must not look to find—
Who knows the climbing boy?
Some home, some hope, some joy;
But these I must not look to find—
Who knows the climbing boy?
168
The world has not a place of rest
For outcast so forlorn;
'Twas all bespoken, all possest,
Long before I was born.
For outcast so forlorn;
'Twas all bespoken, all possest,
Long before I was born.
Affection, too, life's sweetest cup,
Goes round from hand to hand;
But I am never ask'd to sup—
Out of the ring I stand.
Goes round from hand to hand;
But I am never ask'd to sup—
Out of the ring I stand.
If kindness beats within my heart,
What heart will beat again?
I coax the dogs, they snarl and start;
Brutes are as bad as men.
What heart will beat again?
I coax the dogs, they snarl and start;
Brutes are as bad as men.
The beggar's child may rise above
The misery of his lot;
The gipsy may be loved, and love;
But I—but I must not.
The misery of his lot;
The gipsy may be loved, and love;
But I—but I must not.
Hard fare, cold lodgings, cruel toil,
Youth, health, and strength consume:
What tree could thrive in such a soil?
What flower so scathed could bloom?
Youth, health, and strength consume:
What tree could thrive in such a soil?
What flower so scathed could bloom?
Should I outgrow this crippling work,
How shall my bread be sought?
Must I to other lads turn Turk,
And teach what I am taught?
How shall my bread be sought?
Must I to other lads turn Turk,
And teach what I am taught?
O, might I roam with flocks and herds
In fellowship along!
O, were I one among the birds,
All wing, and life, and song!
In fellowship along!
O, were I one among the birds,
All wing, and life, and song!
Free with the fishes might I dwell
Down in the quiet sea!
The snail in his cob-castle shell—
The snail's a king to me!
Down in the quiet sea!
The snail in his cob-castle shell—
The snail's a king to me!
For out he glides in April showers,
Lies snug when storms prevail;
He feeds on fruit, he sleeps on flowers—
I wish I was a snail!—
Lies snug when storms prevail;
He feeds on fruit, he sleeps on flowers—
I wish I was a snail!—
No, never! do the worst they can,
I may be happy still;
For I was born to be a man,
And if I live I will!
I may be happy still;
For I was born to be a man,
And if I live I will!
| The poetical works of James Montgomery | |