 | The select poems of Dr. Thomas Dunn English (exclusive of the "Battle lyrics") |  |
506
THE TRAMP'S DEFENCE.
Yes, sir—one of the tramps. That's what they call us,
We wandering philosophers who bear
Scorn, cold and hunger, none of which appall us,
So we have freedom and our breath of air—
Having these in plenty, wherefore need we care?
We wandering philosophers who bear
Scorn, cold and hunger, none of which appall us,
So we have freedom and our breath of air—
Having these in plenty, wherefore need we care?
A tramp, indeed! There's honor in the title;
It had been borne, if right were might, by those
Whose course of life is worthy of recital
By grave historians, and whose joys and woes
And deeds while on the tramp, the whole world knows.
It had been borne, if right were might, by those
Whose course of life is worthy of recital
By grave historians, and whose joys and woes
And deeds while on the tramp, the whole world knows.
Like each of them I am by choice a rover,
And wander, since this errant life of mine
Pleases me more than standing still; moreover,
Tramps ne'er become so from a fate malign,
Nor know a Nemesis α–διδρασκειν.
And wander, since this errant life of mine
Pleases me more than standing still; moreover,
Tramps ne'er become so from a fate malign,
Nor know a Nemesis α–διδρασκειν.
“I know some Greek?” That is no wondrous knowledge,
I can recite the Iliad by the page;
I have not lost the lore I got in college,
And could a contest with a Parson wage,
Though not so well as at an earlier age.
I can recite the Iliad by the page;
I have not lost the lore I got in college,
And could a contest with a Parson wage,
Though not so well as at an earlier age.
“How did I fall?” How did I rise were better;
I shall not fall until to tramp I stop;
If you will read with care the classic letter,
You'll see great men while tramps remain on top,
But, growing quiet, to the bottom drop.
I shall not fall until to tramp I stop;
If you will read with care the classic letter,
You'll see great men while tramps remain on top,
But, growing quiet, to the bottom drop.
507
The son of great Hamilcar Barca, greater
Than was his sire, tramped like a man of brawn
Over the Alps successful; but when later
In Capua he stopped his tramping on,
And turned respectable, his power was gone.
Than was his sire, tramped like a man of brawn
Over the Alps successful; but when later
In Capua he stopped his tramping on,
And turned respectable, his power was gone.
A tramp! why, what on earth was Genghis Khan
Who shook his pigtail in all Europe's face?
What Alexander, or what any man
Whose steady tramp by blood and groans you trace—
All tramps, and scourges of the human race.
Who shook his pigtail in all Europe's face?
What Alexander, or what any man
Whose steady tramp by blood and groans you trace—
All tramps, and scourges of the human race.
But there be tramps, and tramps—the records teach;
Of pious ones there is your burning lamp,
Peter the Hermit, who with stirring speech,
Changed the whole Orient into one vast camp;
Leading a host of tramps, himself a tramp.
Of pious ones there is your burning lamp,
Peter the Hermit, who with stirring speech,
Changed the whole Orient into one vast camp;
Leading a host of tramps, himself a tramp.
I'm of the harmless kind, you'll please to note;
No blood, no sorrow marks my patient tread;
I, in my stomach wear my broadcloth coat;
But little fills my want—some whiskey, bread,
Meat when I can, more whiskey, and a bed.
No blood, no sorrow marks my patient tread;
I, in my stomach wear my broadcloth coat;
But little fills my want—some whiskey, bread,
Meat when I can, more whiskey, and a bed.
I never pocket money held in trust;
I never cheat in chattels that I vend;
I never by my cant excite disgust;
I never wound the honor of a friend;
Nor seek for cent. per cent. on what I lend.
I never cheat in chattels that I vend;
I never by my cant excite disgust;
I never wound the honor of a friend;
Nor seek for cent. per cent. on what I lend.
I am the type of progress; on I go
As steady as the stream—no rest for me;
What may occur to-morrow breeds no woe
In my calm mind—what is to be, will be;
I am the genuine Child of Destiny.
As steady as the stream—no rest for me;
What may occur to-morrow breeds no woe
In my calm mind—what is to be, will be;
I am the genuine Child of Destiny.
| The select poems of Dr. Thomas Dunn English (exclusive of the "Battle lyrics") | |