Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ANSWER TO PAUPER, by THOMAS HOOD


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ANSWER TO PAUPER, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Don't tell me of buds and blossoms
Last Line: We'll pass you to the next.
Subject(s): Poverty


DON'T tell me of buds and blossoms,
Or with rose and vi'let wheedle --
Nosegays grow for other bosoms,
Churchwarden and Beadle.
What have you to do with streams?
What with sunny skies, or garish
Cuckoo songs, or pensive dreams?
Nature's not your parish!

What right have such as you to dun
For sun or moonbeams, warm or bright?
Before you talk about the sun,
Pay for window-light!
Talk of passions -- amorous fancies;
While your betters' flames miscarry,
If you love your Dolls and Nancys,
Don't we make you marry?

Talk of wintry chill and storm,
Fragrant, winds that blanch your bones!
You poor can always keep you warm; --
Ain't there breaking stones?
Suppose you don't enjoy the spring,
Roses fair and vi'lets meek,
You can't look for everything
On eighteen pence a week!

With seasons what have you to do?
If corn doth thrive, or wheat is harmed!
What's weather to the cropless? You
Don't farm -- but you are farmed!
Why everlasting murmurs hurled,
With hardship for the text?
If such as you don't like this world,
We'll pass you to the next.





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