Death & Dying

Alton Locke's Song

by Charles Kingsley 1819–1875

From Andromeda, and Other Poems

Death & Dying

Weep, weep, weep and weep,
For pauper, dolt, and slave!
Hark! from wasted moor and fen,
Feverous alley, stifling den,
Swells the wail of Saxon men--
Work! or the grave!

Down, down, down and down,
With idler, knave, and tyrant!
Why for sluggards cark and moil?
He that will not live by toil
Has no right on English soil!
God's word's our warrant!

Up, up, up and up!
Face your game and play it!
The night is past, behold the sun!
The idols fall, the lie is done!
The Judge is set, the doom begun!
Who shall stay it?

MLA

Kingsley, Charles. “Alton Locke's Song.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/kingsley/28/.

Chicago

Kingsley, Charles. “Alton Locke's Song.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/kingsley/28/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by Charles Kingsley