Poems by Robert Nicoll Second edition: with numerous additions, and a memoir of the author |
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ENDURANCE. |
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 | Poems by Robert Nicoll |  |
ENDURANCE.
If you have borne the bitter taunts
Which proud poor men must bear;
If you have felt the upstart's sneer
Your heart like iron sear;
If you have heard yourself belied,
Nor answer'd word nor blow—
You have endured as I have done—
And poverty you know!
Which proud poor men must bear;
If you have felt the upstart's sneer
Your heart like iron sear;
If you have heard yourself belied,
Nor answer'd word nor blow—
You have endured as I have done—
And poverty you know!
If you have heard old Mammon's laugh,
And borne of wealth the frown;
If you have felt your very soul
Destroyed and casten down,—
And been compell'd to bear it all
For sake of daily bread—
Then have you suffered what is laid
Upon the poor man's head!
And borne of wealth the frown;
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Destroyed and casten down,—
And been compell'd to bear it all
For sake of daily bread—
Then have you suffered what is laid
Upon the poor man's head!
If you have seen your children starved,
And wish'd to bow and die,
Crush'd by a load of bitterness,
Scorn, and contumely;
If misery has gnaw'd your soul
Until its food grew pain—
Then you have shed the bloody tears
That cheeks of poor men stain!
And wish'd to bow and die,
Crush'd by a load of bitterness,
Scorn, and contumely;
If misery has gnaw'd your soul
Until its food grew pain—
Then you have shed the bloody tears
That cheeks of poor men stain!
There is a Book, and hypocrites
Say they believe it true,
Which tells us men are equal all!
Do they believe and do?
No, vampires! Christ they crucify
In men of low degree:
Could souls decay—the poor man's soul
A mortal thing would be!
Say they believe it true,
Which tells us men are equal all!
Do they believe and do?
No, vampires! Christ they crucify
In men of low degree:
Could souls decay—the poor man's soul
A mortal thing would be!
| Poems by Robert Nicoll | |