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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


AN ITALIAN BEGGAR by RICHARD EUGENE BURTON

First Line: HO, LITTLE GIRL, THE ROAD BESIDE
Last Line: FOR THIS LAND OF LANDS AND THIS DAY OF DAYS!
Subject(s): BEAUTY; BEGGING & BEGGARS; FLOWERS; HEARTS; ITALY; ROSES; ITALIANS;

HO, little girl, the road beside,
That winds along by the vineyards gay,
All you want is our coin, I know,
And you thrust your roses under our noses,
Hoping to conquer our scruples so.
What I should do is to answer: "No,
Beggars should always be denied."

What I do, is to throw to you
All my change, -- for my heart beats young,
This is Italy, skies are blue,
All about me I hear a tongue
Made for song, -- and your eyes are bright,
Dusk your hair, and your face a-light
And lovely, -- bless me, what money pays
For this land of lands and this day of days!



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