麻豆约拍

By Samuel Thomson

SEE how yon weak, old woman drags

Along the way, her weary legs,
All bleeding, stung by cruel clegs:
Old starving poor,
Man鈥檚 help-meet, yes, Eve鈥檚 daughter begs
From door to door.

How doth it fill observing eyes
With tears, and feeling hearts with sighs!
To see her o'er her naked thighs,
The tatters throw!
Can she be happy? 鈥揳h! he lies,
Who answers --no.

What tho' she stray in misery's weeds,
A wandering thing, that no one heeds;
Her soul, perhaps, on manna feeds :
The still, small voice
May whisper peace - O meed of meeds!
And joy of joys!

Poor outcast, what about your name,
It matters not from whence you came;
No weary worn, half ,blind and lame!
O sad distress!
What bosom dare deny your claim!
What heart of brass!

Poor naked wretch, I pity thee,
And were I rich, as some I see,
Thy sheltered home on yonder lee,
I'd gladly raise,
Whose lowly roof shoud sacred be
To prayer and praise.

Proceed, lone wanderer on thy way,
The day is not a distant day,
That thy poor way-worn limbs will lay;
Their journey done;
To moulder in their parent clay,
鈥淔orgot and gone鈥�.

(July 15, 1803)