Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A TRAMP'S CONFESSION, by HARRY HIBBARD KEMP


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A TRAMP'S CONFESSION, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: We huddled in the mission
Last Line: Fergive the lie I lied!
Subject(s): Wandering & Wanderers; Wanderlust; Vagabonds; Tramps; Hoboes


WE huddled in the mission
Fer it was cold outside,
An' listened to the preacher
Tell of the Crucified;

Without, a sleety drizzle
Cut deep each ragged form,—
An' so we stood the talkin'
Fer shelter from the storm.

They sang of God an' angels,
An' heaven's eternal joy,
An' things I stopped believin'
When I was still a boy;

They spoke of good an' evil,
An' offered savin' grace—
An' some showed love fer mankin'
A-shinin' in their face,

An' some their graft was workin'
The same as me an' you:
But most was urgin' on us
Wot they believed was true.

We sang an' dozed an' listened,
But only feared, us men,
The time when, service over,
We'd have to mooch again

An' walk the icy pavements
An' breast the snowstorm gray
Till the saloons was opened
An' there was hints of day.

So, when they called out "Sinners,
Won't you come!" I came ...
But in my face was pallor
An' in my heart was shame ...
An' so fergive me, Jesus,
Fer mockin' of thy name—

Fer I was cold an' hungry!
They gave me grub an' bed
After I kneeled there with them
An' many prayers was said.

An' so fergive me, Jesus,
I didn't mean no harm—
An' outside it was zero,
An' inside it was warm ...

Yes, I was cold an' hungry,—
An', O Thou Crucified,
Thou friend of all the Lowly,
Fergive the lie I lied!





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