Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, RICH AND POOR; OR, SAINT AND SINNER, by THOMAS LOVE PEACOCK


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

RICH AND POOR; OR, SAINT AND SINNER, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The poor man's sins are glaring
Last Line: Where the bishop groans to view him.
Subject(s): Poverty; Wealth; Riches; Fortunes


THE poor man's sins are glaring;
In the face of ghostly warning
He is caught in the fact
Of an overt act--
Buying greens on Sunday morning.

The rich man's sins are hidden
In the pomp of wealth and station;
And escape the sight
Of the children of light
Who are wise in their generation.

The rich man has a kitchen
And cooks to dress his dinner;
The poor who would roast
To the baker's must post,
And thus becomes a sinner.

The rich man has a cellar,
And a ready butler by him;
The poor must steer
For his pint of beer
Where the saint can't choose but spy him.

The rich man's painted windows
Hide the concerts of the quality;
The poor can but share
A cracked fiddle in the air,
Which offends all sound morality.

The rich man is invisible
In the erowd of his gay society;
But the poor man's delight
Is a sore in the sight,
And a stench in the nose of piety.

The rich man has a carriage
Where no rude eye cam flout him;
The poor man's bane
Is a third-class train,
With the daylight all about him.

The rich man goes out yachting,
Where sanctity can't pursue him;
The poor man goes afloat
In a fourpenny boat,
Where the bishop groans to view him.




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