Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, UPON THE LOSS OF HIS LITTLE FINGER, by THOMAS RANDOLPH


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

UPON THE LOSS OF HIS LITTLE FINGER, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Arithmetic nine digits, and no more
Last Line: How soon mischance hath made a hand of thee.
Subject(s): Accidents; Fingers


ARITHMETIC nine digits, and no more,
Admits of; then I still have all my store,
For what mischance hath ta'en from my left hand,
It seems did only for a cipher stand,
But this I'll say for thee, departed joint,
Thou wert not given to steal, nor pick, nor point
At any in disgrace; but thou didst go
Untimely to thy death, only to show
The other members what they once must do:
Hand, arm, leg, thigh, and all must follow too.
Oft didst thou scan my verse, where if I miss,
Henceforth I will impute the cause to this.
A finger's loss (I speak it not in sport)
Will make a verse a foot too short,
Farewell, dear finger, much I grieve to see
How soon mischance hath made a hand of thee.





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