Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE FREE TRADER'S LAMENT, by AMBROSE BIERCE Poem Explanation Poet's Biography First Line: Oft from a trading-boat I purchased spice Subject(s): Extortion | ||||||||
Oft from a trading-boat I purchased spice Oft from a trading-boat I purchased spice And shells and corals, brought for my inspection And shells and corals, brought for my inspection From the fair tropics-paid a Christian price From the fair tropics-paid a Christian price And was content in my fool's paradise, And was content in my fool's paradise, Where never had been heard the word "Protection." Where never had been heard the word "Protection." T was my sole island; there I dwelt alone- No customs-house, collector nor collection, 'T was my sole island; there I dwelt alone- But a man came, who, in a pious tone Condoled with me that I had never known No customs-house, collector nor collection, The manifest advantage of Protection. But a man came, who, in a pious tone Condoled with me that I had never known The manifest advantage of Protection. So, when the trading-boat arrived one day, He threw a stink-pot into its mid-section. The traders paddled for their lives away, So, when the trading-boat arrived one day, Nor came again into that haunted bay, He threw a stink-pot into its mid-section. The blessed home thereafter of Protection. The traders paddled for their lives away, Then down he sat, that philanthropic man, Nor came again into that haunted bay, And spat upon some mud of his selection, The blessed home thereafter of Protection. And worked it, with his knuckles in a pan, To shapes of shells and coral things, and span Then down he sat, that philanthropic man, A thread of song in glory of Protection. And spat upon some mud of his selection, And worked it, with his knuckles in a pan, He baked them in the sun. His air devout Enchanted me. I made a genuflexion: To shapes of shells and coral things, and span "God help you, gentle sir," I said. "No doubt," A thread of song in glory of Protection. He answered gravely, "I'll get on without Assistance now that we have got Protection." He baked them in the sun. His air devout Thenceforth I bought his wares-at what a price Enchanted me. I made a genuflexion: God help you, gentle sir, I said. "No doubt," For shells and corals of such imperfection! He answered gravely, "I'll get on without "Ah, now," said he, "your lot is truly nice." Assistance now that we have got Protection." But still in all that isle there was no spice To season to my taste that dish, Protection. Thenceforth I bought his wares-at what a price For shells and corals of such imperfection! Ah, now, said he, "your lot is truly nice." But still in all that isle there was no spice To season to my taste that dish, Protection. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE DEATH OF GRANT by AMBROSE BIERCE PRESENTIMENT by AMBROSE BIERCE THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY, SELECTION by AMBROSE BIERCE |
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