“I.
Is this as it should be?
Wolf of Stomach! Wealth is fed;
Riches miss no daily bread.
Tooth of Winter! Woollen stuff
Yields to riches warmth enough.
But the poor say, in their sorrow,
Eat to-day, but crave to-morrow:
And the poor say, Garments old
Give free trespass to the cold.
Is this as it should be?
Fount of learning! At thy brink
Willing wealth may stay and drink:
But the poor man may not learn,
When he has his bread to earn.
Weary limbs make weary brain;
He may scanty knowledge gain;
But must plod, and plod, and plod,
Till he yields him to the sod.
Is this as it should be?
Scorner of a poor estate,
Sit in chambers of the great;
Give God thanks that thou hast dined.
Famine moaneth on the wind.
Thou art warmly wrapped and fed;
Shivering thousands beg their bread.
For thy fulness maketh scant,
Hoarding that which others want.
Is this as it should be?
II.
This is as it should be,
Sturdy arm, and stout of heart,
In the labour bear thy part.
Whether thou be rich or poor,
Do thy share, and do no more.
For his portion, rightly done,
Gives to each, beneath the sun,
All that he has right to ask-
‘Shamed to reap another’s task.
This is as it should be.
Work, but never be deprived
Of the honey thou hast hived,
Save for change, of equal worth,
Of the wealth of this fair earth.
Eat no bread thou hast not won;
Give not, but for labour done:
Bid, or high, or low, go toil,
As thon dost, on common soil.
This is as it should be.
Guerdon-for the good deed wrought;
For the bloodless fight well fought.
Guerdon–when the strife is o’er,
And strong arm can toil no more.
But, till reverend age succeeds
To its rest from daily deeds,
Let the general voice demand
Equal toil of every hand.
This is as it should be.
Yield unto the common weal
Rightful wage for daily meal;
Nor make question of thy lot:-
One may have what thou hast not:
Have enough;-if he hath more,
He is rich, nor art thou poor;
Thou art rich in thy degree,
And as good a man as he.
This is as it should be.
(Edward Youl)”
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Based on Topics: Man Poems, Mind Poems, Sadness Poems, Art Poems, Money & Wealth Poems, Education Poems, Work & Career Poems, Winter Poems, Change Poems, Brain Poems, Learning PoemsBased on Keywords: scorner, woollen, hoarding, hived, moaneth, thon