All devil as I am -- a damned wretch, A hardened, stubborn, unrepenting villain, Still my heart melts at human wretchedness; And with sincere but unavailing sighs I view the helpless children of distress: With tears indignant I behold the oppressor Rejoicing in the honest man's destruction, Whose unsubmitting heart was all his crime. - Ev'n you, ye hapless crew! I pity you; Ye, whom the seeming good think sin to pity; Ye poor, despised, abandoned vagabonds, Whom Vice, as usual, has turn'd o'er to ruin. Oh! but for friends and interposing Heaven, I had been driven forth like you forlorn, The most detested, worthless wretch among you! O injured God! Thy goodness has endow'd me With talents passing most of my compeers, Which I in just proportion have abused -- As far surpassing other common villains As Thou in natural parts has given me more. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MARSHALL WASHER by HAYDEN CARRUTH SPRING BLIZZARD by JAMES GALVIN TO THE MEMORY OF INEZ MILHOLLAND by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON IN THE JEWISH SYNAGOGUE AT NEWPORT by EMMA LAZARUS VICTORY IN DEFEAT by EDWIN MARKHAM AT THE CHURCH DOOR by GEORGE SANTAYANA COLLEGE DRINKING SONG by GEORGE SANTAYANA SURFACE AND STRUCTURE: BONAVENTURE HOTEL, LOS ANGELES by KAREN SWENSON |