HOW soon my poverty would ended be, Could I the pencil use, and paint away, The walls of castles proud and churches gay Adorning with my pictures merrily! How soon would wealth replace my penury, Could I the fiddle, flute, and piano play. And with such elegance perform each day, That lords and ladies all applauded me! But ah! in Mammon's smiles I ne'er had part, For I have follow'd thee alone, alas! Thee, Poetry, most thankless, breadless art! When others (how I'm blushing, now I've said it!) Drink their champagne from out a brimming glass, I needs must go without, or drink on credit! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A BIRTHDAY by LOUIS UNTERMEYER TO MARY IN HEAVEN by ROBERT BURNS A SPIRIT PASSED BEFORE ME by GEORGE GORDON BYRON MY SWEET BROWN GAL by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR THE FARM CHILD'S LULLABY by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR THE HOUSE OF LIFE: 79. THE MONOCHORD by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI |