Love, banish'd Heav'n, on Earth was held in scorn, Wand'ring abroad in need and beggary, And wanting friends, though of a Goddess born, Yet crav'd the alms of such as passed by. I, like a man devout and charitable, Clothed the naked, lodg'd this wand'ring guest, With sighs and tears still furnishing his table With what might make the miserable blest. But this ungrateful, for my good desert, Entic'd my thoughts against me to conspire, Who gave consent to steal away my heart, And set my breast, his lodging, on a fire. Well, well, my friends, when beggars grow thus bold, No marvel then though charity grow cold. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...I'VE NOTHING TO OFFER by DAVID IGNATOW CORPORATE ENTITY by ARCHIBALD MACLEISH A FOOL, A FOUL THING, A DISTRESSFUL LUNATIC by MARIANNE MOORE ISAIAH, JEREMIAH, EXEKIEL, DANIEL by MARIANNE MOORE SANTA FE SKETCHES by CARL SANDBURG |