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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE TROUBLE MARKET by DOUGLAS MALLOCH

First Line: ONCE, I REMEMBER, WHEN I CAME
Last Line: "WE'D ALL TAKE UP OUR OWN AGAIN."

Once, I remember, when I came
To Mother with my load of care,
When I cried out I had to bear
Too much of labor, wrong and blame,
Yes, more than anybody's share,

A benediction in her touch,
My good old mother stroked my head
And wisely, tenderly, she said:
"Although we work and suffer much,
By sorrow often visited,

"If God should set a day aside,
Appoint a time, appoint a place,
Where ev'ry trouble, ev'ry trace
Of weary toil and wounded pride
And ev'ry problem that we face,

"We all could bring, that all might trade
Their troubles with the others there,
Lay down our heavy load of care
And take the burden that has made
Some other mortal gray of hair,

"When we had looked life's troubles o'er
To make a better bargain then,
When we beheld what other men,
What other men and women bore --
We'd all take up our own again."



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