LAST SONNET BRIGHT star! would I were steadfast as thou art Not in lone splendor hung aloft the night, W Hood THE SONG OF THE SHIRT ITH fingers weary and worn, With eyelids heavy and red, A woman sat, in unwomanly rags, Stitch! stitch! stitch! In poverty, hunger, and dirt; And still with a voice of dolorous pitch She sang the "Song of the Shirt!" "Work! work! work While the cock is crowing aloof! And work work work Till the stars shine through the roof! It's, O, to be a slave Along with the barbarous Turk, Where woman has never a soul to save, If this is Christian work! Till the brain begins to swim! Work work work Till the eyes are heavy and dim! Seam, and gusset, and band, O men with mothers and wives! In poverty, hunger, and dirt, - "But why do I talk of death,— O God! that bread should be so dear, My labor never flags; And what are its wages? A bed of straw, A crust of bread — and rags, That shattered roof — and this naked floor And a wall so blank my shadow I thank For sometimes falling there! From weary chime to chime! Work - work - work As prisoners work for crime! Band, and gusset, and seam, Seam, and gusset, and band, Till the heart is sick and the brain benumbed, As well as the weary hand. In the dull December light! And work work work -- When the weather is warm and bright! While underneath the eaves The brooding swallows cling, As if to show me their sunny backs, "O, but to breathe the breath Of the cowslip and primrose sweet, With the sky above my head, For only one short hour To feel as I used to feel, Before I knew the woes of want And the walk that costs a meal! - No blessed leisure for love or hope, A little weeping would ease my heart; My tears must stop, for every drop With fingers weary and worn, In poverty, hunger, and dirt; And still with a voice of dolorous pitch Would that its tone could reach the rich! She sang this "Song of the Shirt!" |