Death & Dying

Last Verses

by Thomas Chatterton 1752–1770

From Poetical Works, ed. Skeat (1875)

Death & Dying

Farewell, Bristolia's dingy piles of brick,
Lovers of Mammon, worshippers of Trick!
Ye spurned the boy who gave you antique lays,
And paid for learning with your empty praise.

Farewell, ye guzzling aldermanic fools,
By nature fitted for Corruption's tools!
I go to where celestial anthems swell;
But you, when you depart, will sink to hell.

Farewell, my mother! — cease, my anguished soul,
Nor let Distraction's billows o'er me roll!
Have mercy, Heaven! when here I cease to live,
And this last act of wretchedness forgive.

MLA

Chatterton, Thomas. “Last Verses.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/chatterton/100/.

Chicago

Chatterton, Thomas. “Last Verses.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/chatterton/100/.

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