THE BEGGAR
Showing his ill-made frame
And mumbling of troubles many,
Along a public street,
The cripple calls for a penny.
And mumbling of troubles many,
Along a public street,
The cripple calls for a penny.
Inviting sympathy,
By his rags and his withered arm.
He follows and frets till we argue
A penny can do him no harm.
.......
Just now, in this intimate room,
Sagacious, clever and witty,
Exposing his hardships, a Beggar
Beckoned his friends for pity.
By his rags and his withered arm.
He follows and frets till we argue
A penny can do him no harm.
.......
Just now, in this intimate room,
Sagacious, clever and witty,
Exposing his hardships, a Beggar
Beckoned his friends for pity.
Ugh! By displaying his pains,
By showing his heart was ashen,
By revealing his twisted life,
He played for a glance of compassion.
By showing his heart was ashen,
By revealing his twisted life,
He played for a glance of compassion.
Strange how I longed to laugh;
His feebleness was funny.
I thought: "He's only a Beggar
And affection is golden money.
His feebleness was funny.
I thought: "He's only a Beggar
And affection is golden money.
"Scorn will do for this Beggar,
And a smile will send him away;
I will keep my love for One
Who may need my love some day.
And a smile will send him away;
I will keep my love for One
Who may need my love some day.
"I will keep my love for One
Who is brave and ashamed of tears:
The importunity
Of silence reaches my ears;—
Who is brave and ashamed of tears:
The importunity
Of silence reaches my ears;—
"Life on its lonely way
Moving on lonely wings,
And the mute mind, alone
With dark imaginings."
Moving on lonely wings,
And the mute mind, alone
With dark imaginings."
I thought, "I will keep my love,—
I will keep my tenderness,
For One who is piteous,
Hiding his loneliness."
I will keep my tenderness,
For One who is piteous,
Hiding his loneliness."