We teach our sons salvation lies
In hardy toil and honesty,
Then close their gate to Paradise
By barring them from industry;
We know their poignant wordless plea
No echoes stir where Solons nod,
But time and circumstance decree
When hunger drives the wolves abroad.
We rear our daughters in the creeds
Of honest pride and chastity;
Then snare them through their human needs,
A prey to lust and cruelty;
Ah, nymphs of midnight venery,
Who walk the path his mopsies trod,
Ye know the plea of frailty
That hunger drives the wolves abroad!
All men go down their several roads
To ope their doors to destiny,
But all alike when hunger goads
Are creatures of necessity;
And some may die submissively
And blame it on the will of God,
But most obey the primal plea
And hunger drives the wolves abroad.
ENVOY
Prince! Are ye safe in luxury
While thousands moan beneath the rod?
Catch caution from the simile
That hunger drives the wolves abroad!
(Burnett A. Ward)
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Based on Topics: God Poems, Money & Wealth Poems, Fate & Destiny Poems, Business & Commerce Poems, Honesty & Integrity Poems, Necessity Poems, Metaphor & Analogy PoemsBased on Keywords: caution, goads, envoy, barring, submissively, venery, solons