Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE CONTRAST, by JANET HAMILTON Poet's Biography First Line: See yonder wretched little girl Last Line: "we'll pray, ""god bless the temperance dwelling." Alternate Author Name(s): Hamilton, Janet Thompson Subject(s): Alcoholism & Alcoholics; Family Life; Temperance; Drunkards; Alcohol Abuse; Relatives; Prohibition | ||||||||
SEE yonder wretched little girl, Braving cold, and want, and peril, Wandering through the frozen street, Seeking her she fears to meet; Matted locks hang round her ears, From her wild eyes rain the tears; In her arms a squalid child, Wrapt in rags all torn and soil'd, Clinging to her shivering breast Young bird cast from rifled nest. Now the mother's form she sees, Drooping head and tottering knees. Babbling tongue and idiot stare, Ah! too well her state declare. "Mother! mother! father's come; Haste! oh, haste! he waits at home!" Ay! he waits for her returning, Wrath and hate within him burning. Oh! that home, how desolate! Bare the walls, and cold the grate; Empty cupboard, naked bed, Health and peace and comfort fled! Hark, those sounds! your ears they tingle! Blows and shrieks and curses mingle Words of passion, fierce and wild, Weeping girl and screaming child, While the shades of evening close, Cowering, sobbing, seek repose; Couched on straw, the group, forlorn, Wait the miseries of the morn. God! I pray, with heart high swelling, Mercy on the drunkard's dwelling. See that playful, laughing girl, Lips of rose, and teeth of pearl, Brow unwrinkled by a frown, Waving locks of golden brown, Shading soft her azure eyes, Dimpled cheeks whose hue outvies Rosebud wild, I hear her singing O'er the mead her wild flight winging Weaving 'neath the willow bushes Coronets of fragrant rushes. Mother at the cottage door Gazing the fair landscape o'er Sees on homeward path advancing, Her wee daughter, skipping, dancing, Fill'd her lap, and hands, and bosom With flowery blooms and hawthorn blossom. Look within; how clean and neat! The fire is bright, the tea is set; The father lifts his eyes to heaven, And asks on all its bounties given God's blessing. Now the blooms and roses Are laid aside; the evening closes The blinds are drawnfast closed the door And now, upon the cottage floor, That lovely, lowly group are kneeling In fervent prayer, to Heaven appealing; And while their hymn of praise is swelling, We'll pray, "God bless the temperance dwelling." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ODE FOR A SOCIAL MEETING, WITH SLIGHT ALTERATIONS BY A TEETOTALER by OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES TEMPER by CLARA EXLINE BOCKOVEN A TRUCKER DRIVES THROUGH HIS LOST YOUTH by DAVID BOTTOMS THE FIGHTING WORD by BERTON BRALEY THE METHOD OF THE MAD MULLAH by BERTON BRALEY ON A PROHIBITIONIST POEM by GILBERT KEITH CHESTERTON A MAIDEN'S DREAM by ROBERT GREENE OUR PROGRAM by ARTHUR GUITERMAN A BALLAD FOUNDED ON A REAL INCIDENT WHICH OCCURED IN HIGH LIFE by JANET HAMILTON |
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