The Cry of the Unemployed

'Tis hard, 'tis hard to wander on through this bright
world of ours,
Beneath a sky of smiling blue, on velvet paths of
flowers,
With music in the woods, as there were nought but
joyaunce known,
Or Angels walkt earth's solitudes, and yet with want
to groan,
To see no beauty in the stars, nor in God's radiant
smile,
To wail and wander misery-curst! willing, but cannot
toil.
There's burning sickness at my heart, I sink down
famished!
God of the wretched, hear my prayer: I would that
I were dead!

Heaven droppeth down with manna still in many a
golden show'r,
And feeds the leaves with fragrant breath, with silver
dew the flow'r.

There's honey'd fruit for bee and bird, with bloom
laughs out the tree,
And food for all God's happy things; but none gives
food to me.
Earth, deck'd with Plenty's garland-crown, smiles on
my aching eye,
The purse-proud, — swathed in luxury, — disdainful
pass me by:
I've eager hands, and earnest heart — but may not
work for bread!
God of the wretched, hear my prayer: I would that
I were dead!

Gold, art thou not a blessed thing, a charm above
all other,
To shut up hearts to Nature's cry, when brother pleads
with brother?

Hast thou a music sweeter than the voice of loving-
kindness!
No! curse thee, thou 'rt a mist 'twixt God and men in
outer blindness.
"Father, come back!" my children cry; their voices,
once so sweet,
Now quiver lance-like in my bleeding heart! I cannot
meet
The looks that make the brain go mad, for dear ones
asking bread —
God of the wretched, hear my prayer: I would that
I were dead!

Lord! what right have the poor to wed! Love's for
the gilded great:
Are they not form'd of nobler clay, who dine off
golden plate!

'Tis the worst curse of Poverty to have a feeling
heart:

Why can I not, with iron-grasp, tear out the tender
part?

I cannot slave in yon Bastile! ah no, 'twere bit-
terer pain,
To wear the Pauper's iron within, than drag the
Convict's chain.

I'd work but cannot, starve I may, but will not beg
for bread:

God of the wretched, hear my prayer: I would that
I were dead!