Читать книгу Prison Poetry - Hiram Peck McKnight - Страница 5

Table of Contents

If you prefer the sounding line,

Go read some master of the Nine!

Good taste perhaps you will display;

Let others read my simple lay

That gushes from an honest heart

Unawed by fear, unstrained by art.

I ne'er will prostitute my Muse

The rich to praise, nor poor abuse;

But simply sing as best I can

Whate'er may bless my fellow man;

I dare not stain a single page

With outbursts of unreasoning rage,

But if one sorrow I can soothe

Or one his rugged pathway smooth;

One pain relieve, one joy impart,

'Twill ease the burden of a heart

That has known for weary years

No solace save unbidden tears.

Hard is the heart that will refuse

Due merit to the Prison Muse.

May heaven watch the prisoner's weal

And mankind for his sorrow feel!