HOW soon my poverty would ended be, Could I the pencil use, and paint away, The walls of castles proud and churches gay Adorning with my pictures merrily! How soon would wealth replace my penury, Could I the fiddle, flute, and piano play. And with such elegance perform each day, That lords and ladies all applauded me! But ah! in Mammon's smiles I ne'er had part, For I have follow'd thee alone, alas! Thee, Poetry, most thankless, breadless art! When others (how I'm blushing, now I've said it!) Drink their champagne from out a brimming glass, I needs must go without, or drink on credit! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A POEM FOR MAX NORDAU by EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON THE DEAD PAN by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING EPITHALAMION MADE AT LINCOLNES INNE by JOHN DONNE KLAMATH SUMMER by VIRGINIA WHITE BROWN THE SONNET by SAMUEL VALENTINE COLE TALE: 21. THE LEARNED BOY by GEORGE CRABBE CONSTANCY IN INCONSTANCY; AN OLD MAN'S CONFESSION by DINAH MARIA MULOCK CRAIK |