Men my brothers who after us live, have your hearts against us not hardened. For-if of poor us you take pity, God of you sooner will show mercy. You see us here, attached. As for the flesh we too well have fed, long since it's been devoured or has rotted. And we the bones are becoming ash and dust. Of our pain let nobody laugh, but pray God would us all absolve. If you my brothers I call, do not scoff at us in disdain, though killed we were by justice. Yet ?? you know all men are not of good sound sense. Plead our behalf since we are dead naked with the Son of Mary the Virgin that His grace be not for us dried up preserving us from hell's fulminations. We're dead after all. Let no soul revile us, but pray God would us all absolve. Rain has washed us, laundered us, and the sun has dried us black. Worse-ravens plucked our eyes hollow and picked our beards and brows. Never ever have we sat down, but this way, and that way, at the wind's good pleasure ceaselessly we swing 'n swivel, more nibbled at than sewing thimbles. Therefore, think not of joining our guild, but pray God would us all absolve. Prince Jesus, who over all has lordship, care that hell not gain of us dominion. With it we have no business, fast or loose. People, here be no mocking, but pray God would us all absolve. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TWELVE SONNETS: 11. FIRST, BATTLE; THEN, WOMAN by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) SONNET: 11 by RICHARD BARNFIELD LOVE'S BREATH by LOUISA SARAH BEVINGTON HE TOOK MY PLACE by HORATIO (HORATIUS) BONAR BALLAD TO THE TUNE OF 'I'LL HAVE MY LOVE, OR I'LL HAVE ONE' by PATRICK CAREY BLANK MISGIVINGS OF A CREATURE MOVING ABOUT IN WORLDS NOT REALIZED: 1 by ARTHUR HUGH CLOUGH STANZAS PRINTED ON BILLS OF MORTALITY: 1793 by WILLIAM COWPER LOVE, JOY, AND PLEASURE; AN ALLEGORY by LUCRETIA MARIA DAVIDSON |