SHOWING his ill-made frame And mumbling of troubles many, Along a public street, The cripple calls for a penny. Inviting sympathy, By his rags and his withered arm, He follows and frets till we argue A penny can do him no harm. . . . . . . . Just now, in this intimate room, Sagacious, clever and witty, Exposing his hardships, a Beggar Beckoned his friends for pity. Ugh! By displaying his pains, By showing his heart was ashen, By revealing his twisted life, He played for a glance of compassion. Strange how I longed to laugh; His feebleness was funny. I thought: "He's only a Beggar And affection is golden money. "Scorn will do for this Beggar, And a smile will send him away; I will keep my love for One Who may need my love some day. "I will keep my love for One Who is brave and ashamed of tears: The importunity Of silence reaches my ears; -- "Life on its lonely way Moving on lonely wings, And the mute mind, alone With dark imaginings." I thought, "I will keep my love, -- I will keep my tenderness, For One who is piteous, Hiding his loneliness." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE AGE OF WISDOM by WILLIAM MAKEPEACE THACKERAY BOUTS RIMES IN PRAISE OF OLD MAIDS by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD MELHILL FEAST by WILLIAM BARNES THE CHIVALRY OF THE SEA by ROBERT SEYMOUR BRIDGES ADDRESS SPOKEN AT THE OPENING OF THE DRURY-LANE THEATRE by GEORGE GORDON BYRON |