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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE FORLORN ONE, by RICHARD HARRIS BARHAM Poet's Biography First Line: Ah! Why those piteous sounds of woe Last Line: And this here warment's prigg'd your wipe.' Alternate Author Name(s): Ingoldsby, Thomas Subject(s): Mercy | |||
AH! why those piteous sounds of woe, Lone wanderer of the dreary night? Thy gushing tears in torrents flow, Thy bosom pants in wild affright! And thou, within whose iron breast Those frowns austere too truly tell, Mild pity, heaven-descended guest, Hath never, never deign'd to dwell. 'That rude, uncivil touch forgo,' Stern despot of a fleeting hour! Nor 'make the angels weep' to know The fond 'fantastic tricks' of power! Know'st thou not 'mercy is not strain'd, But droppeth as the gentle dew,' And while it blesseth him who gain'd, It blesseth him who gave it, too? Say, what thou art? and what is he, Pale victim of despair and pain, Whose streaming eyes and bended knee Sue to thee thus -- and sue in vain? Cold callous man! -- he scorns to yield, Or aught relax his felon gripe, But answers, 'I'm Inspector Field! And this here warment's prigg'd your wipe.' | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE MERCY SEAT by NORMAN DUBIE MUCHAS GRACIAS POR TODO by NAOMI SHIHAB NYE VILLON'S EPITAPH by FRANCOIS VILLON UNDER THE VULTURE-TREE by DAVID BOTTOMS MERCY PLEADS by LUCRETIA STOUT BELLOWS ON WORKS OF MERCY AND COMPASSION; PROOFS OF TRUE RELIGION by JOHN BYROM EPIGRAM: EHEU FUGACES by RICHARD HARRIS BARHAM LAST LINES OF THOMAS INGOLDSBY by RICHARD HARRIS BARHAM NEW-MADE HONOUR (IMITATED FROM MARTIAL) by RICHARD HARRIS BARHAM |
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