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...MAKING THE BED by KAREN SWENSON I LOVE ALL BEAUTEOUS THINGS by ROBERT SEYMOUR BRIDGES THE OTHER SIDE OF A MIRROR by MARY ELIZABETH COLERIDGE SAINT BRIDE'S LULLABY by WILLIAM SHARP NORTH-WEST PASSAGE: 2. SHADOW MARCH by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON ALONG SHORE by HERBERT BASHFORD THE TRIUMPHS OF THY CONQUERING POWER by WILLIAM HILEY BATHURST |