Classic and Contemporary Poetry
ALL THINGS BE DEAR BUT POOR MENS LABOUR, by ANONYMOUS First Line: Kind country-men listen I pray Last Line: All things be dear but poor mens labour Subject(s): Labor & Laborers;poverty | ||||||||
Kind Country-men listen I pray unto this my harmless Ditty, Observe these words which I shall say for it is true the mores the pity; But chief to those that stand me by, whether stranger or my neighbour I think there's none that can deny All things are dear but poorman's labour We find that Bread-Corn now is dear, in every Town throughout this Nation, The Rich now poor men will not bear because Charity's out of fashion, Poor men do work all day and night for that which in it hath small favour, A Loaf of sixpence is but small all things etc. Beef and Mutton is so dear a mans weeks wages cannot buy it, all things are dear who can deny it, But poor mens labour is too cheap and Tra<d>ing's dead which makes times harder That all their pains wont find them meat all things etc. Cheese and Butter is so dear you know it better than I can tell ye I<t> would grieve a sto<n>y heart to hear the poor complain thus for their belly. And trading still continues dead, with every one that is a trader, That all their pains wont find them bread all things etc. It makes my very heart to ake, to hear poor people thus complaining, For all their care and pains they take, rich men are still the poor disdaining, But let Rich Misers consider well the poor, and show to them some favour Or else their soules will hang in Hell all things etc. Is it not sad for Parents now to hear their children for bread crying, And has it not for them to give although for food they lye a dying, Poor little Babies they must fast although it grieves Mother and Father, A bit of bread they cannot tast, all things etc. To hear the many sad Complaints as I have heard in Town and City, I think you'd cry as well as I, the Rich has for the Poor no pitty For if they work now for Rich men theres some, will keep their Wages from them And make them run to and agan, Which makes the poor cry fye upon them. all things etc. Farmers so covetous they be Their Corn they'l hoard for better profit Although the Poor do fast we see, their grain they'l keep what ere comes of it. Whole Ricks of Corn stands in their yards and scorns to show the Poor some favour For some do swear they do not care if things be dear, but poor mans labour A Rich man there was in Staffordshire, which is a knave, i'me sure no better He hop'd to sell his Corn so dear <as others> do their Pepper, When Wheat was sold for shillings ten he would not Thrash, Fan, nor yet rake it Let poor despair he oft did swear heed keep it for a better market Too many there is of such base men all England round in Town and City They'l see the poor starve at their door before they'l shew them any pity; For some will make poor man to work, all day and night for little favour, For Rich men be cruel mee see all things be dear etc. But thanks to God, Corn falls apace, and all things else that's for the belly, Yet still it doth go bad with some although they work full hard I tell you, Sixpence a day, is now the pay for a days work, and held a favour This must maintain Wife and Babes all things etc. So to conclude, lets be Content with what the Lord doth please to send us, Let us our evil lives repent then in our woes God will defend us: And let rich men be merciful unto the poor stranger or neighbour, For all do know, unto their woe all things be dear but poor mens labour | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE WEALTH OF THE DESTITUTE by DENISE LEVERTOV EMPTY PITCHFORKS by THOMAS LUX FUNERAL SERVICE by EVE MERRIAM A SMALL COUNTRY by CLARIBEL ALEGRIA DOCUMENTAL by CLARIBEL ALEGRIA NOTES ON POVERTY by HAYDEN CARRUTH SONG OF TWO CROWS by HAYDEN CARRUTH PENCIL STUB JOURNALS: CHOICES by JOHN CIARDI AT LAST WE KILLED THE ROACHES by LUCILLE CLIFTON TIS A LITTLE JOURNEY by ANONYMOUS |
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