Classic and Contemporary Poetry
CONTENTMENT, OR, THE HAPPY WORKMAN'S SONG, by JOHN BYROM Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: I am a poor workman as rich as a jew Last Line: Which nobody &c. Subject(s): Contentment; Labor & Laborers; Work; Workers | ||||||||
I AM a poor workman as rich as a Jew, A strange sort of tale, but however 'tis true; Come, listen awhile and I'll prove it to you So as nobody can deny, &c. I am a poor workman, you'll easily grant, Yet I'm rich as a Jew, for there's nothing I want, I have meat, drink, and clothes, and am hearty and cant; Which nobody &c. I live in a cottage, and yonder it stands; And while I can work with these two honest hands, I'm as happy as they that have houses and lands, Which nobody &c. I keep to my workmanship all the day long, I sing and I whistle, and this is my song, "Thank God, who has made me so lusty and strong," Which nobody &c. I never am greedy of delicate fare, If God give me enough, though 'tis ever so bare, The more is his love, and the less is my care; Which nobody &c. My clothes on a working day looken but lean, But when I can dress me, on Sundays I mean, Tho' cheap, they are warm; and tho' coarse, they are clean, Which nobody &c. Folk cry out "hard times," but I never regard, For I ne'er did, nor will set my heart upo' th' ward; So 'tis all one to me, bin they easy or hard, Which nobody &c. I envy not them that have thousands of pounds, That sport o'er the country with horses and hounds; There's nought but contentment can keep within bounds, Which nobody &c. I ne'er lose my time o'er a pipe or a pot, Nor cower in a nook like a sluggardly sot, But I buy what is wanting with what I have got. Which nobody &c. And if I have more than I want for to spend, I help a poor neighbour or diligent friend; He that gives to the poor, to the Lord he doth lend. Which nobody &c. I grudge not that gentlefolk dressen so fine; At their gold and their silver I never repine; But I wish all their guts were as hearty as mine, Which nobody &c. With quarrels o'th' country and matters of state, With Tories and Whigs I ne'er puzzle my pate; There are some that I love, but none that I hate, Which nobody &c. What tho' my condition be ever so coarse, I strive to embrace it for better and worse, And my heart, I thank God, is as light as my purse, Which nobody &c. Whatever, in short, my condition may be, 'Tis God that appoints it as far as I see, And I'm sure I can never do better than he, Which nobody &c. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AFTER WORKING SIXTY HOURS AGAIN FOR WHAT REASON by HICOK. BOB DAY JOB AND NIGHT JOB by ANDREW HUDGINS BIXBY'S LANDING by ROBINSON JEFFERS ON BUILDING WITH STONE by ROBINSON JEFFERS LINES FROM A PLUTOCRATIC POETASTER TO A DITCH-DIGGER by FRANKLIN PIERCE ADAMS IN CALIFORNIA: MORNING, EVENING, LATE JANUARY by DENISE LEVERTOV A HYMN FOR CHRISTMAS DAY (2) by JOHN BYROM |
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