It was the cloister Grabow, in the land of Usedom; For years had God's free goodness to fill its larder come: They might have been contented! Along the shore came swimming, to give the monks good cheer Who dwelt within the cloister, two fishes every year: They might have been contented! Two sturgeons -- two great fat ones -- and then this law was set, That one of them should yearly be taken in the net: They might have been contented! The other swam away then until next year came round; Then with a new companion he punctually was found: Then might have been contented! So then again they caught one, and served him in the dish, And regularly caught they, year in, year out, a fish: They might have been contented! One year, the time appointed two such great fishes brought; The question was a hard one, which of them should be caught: They might have been contented! They caught them both together, but every greedy wight Just spoiled his stomach by it; it served the gluttons right They might have been contented! This was the least of sorrows: hear how the cup ran o'er! Henceforward to the cloister no fish came swimming more: They might have been contented! So long had God supplied them of his free grace alone That now it is denied them, the fault is all their own: They might have been contented! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...CONTRA MORTEM: THE SUN by HAYDEN CARRUTH FOR OUR BETTER GRACES by JAMES GALVIN THE CROSS by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE by EMMA LAZARUS THE DOLL BELIEVERS by CLARENCE MAJOR |