THERE came an officer knocking by night at my door -- In a loud voice demanding grain-tribute. My house-servants dared not wait till the morning, But brought candles and set them on the barn-floor. Passed through the sieve, clean-washed as pearls, A whole cart-load, thirty bushels of grain. But still they cry that it is not paid in full: With whips and curses they goad my servants and boys. Once, in error, I entered public life; I am inwardly ashamed that my talents were not sufficient. In succession I occupied four official posts; For doing nothing, -- ten years' salary! Often have I heard that saying of ancient men That "good and ill follow in an endless chain." And to-day it ought to set my heart at rest To return to others the corn in my great barn. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE STEAM-ENGINE: CANTO 9: GREAT WESTERN DAYS by T. BAKER POST MORTEM by GUSTAVO ADOLFO BECQUER RELEASE by JUNE ELLIOTT CARLSON AUTUMN TIME by HERMAN J. D. CARTER STRAVINSKY by ROBERT PATRICK DANA LINES TO A SPARROW by WILLIAM HENRY DAVIES CHINOISERIE by BABETTE DEUTSCH CALVIN COOLIDGE, 1872-1933: 1. THE MAN by MARGARETTE BALL DICKSON |