Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TRAGIC FRAGMENT, by ROBERT BURNS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TRAGIC FRAGMENT, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: All devil as I am, a damned wretch
Last Line: As thou in natural parts has given me more.


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.





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