The Reproof
Charles Lamb 1775 (Inner Temple, London) – 1834 (Edmonton, London)
Mamma heard me with scorn and pride
A wretched beggar-boy deride.
'Do you not know,' said I, 'how mean
It is to be thus begging seen?
If for a week I were not fed,
I'm sure I would not beg my bread.'
And then away she saw me stalk
With a most self-important walk.
But meeting her upon the stairs,
All these my consequential airs
Were changed to an entreating look.
'Give me,' said I, 'the pocket-book,
Mamma, you promised I should have.'
The pocket-book to me she gave;
After reproof and counsel sage
She bade me write in the first page
This naughty action all in rhyme;
No food to have until the time,
In writing fair and neatly worded,
The unfeeling fact I had recorded.
Slow I compose, and slow I write;
And now I feel keen hunger bite.
My mother's pardon I entreat,
And beg she'll give me food to eat.
Dry bread would be received with joy
By her repentant beggar-boy.
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Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on March 05, 2023
- 51 sec read
- 93 Views
Quick analysis:
Scheme | AABBCCDDEEFFGHIIJJKLMMANOO |
---|---|
Closest metre | Iambic tetrameter |
Characters | 854 |
Words | 171 |
Stanzas | 1 |
Stanza Lengths | 26 |
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"The Reproof" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 10 Jun 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/5410/the-reproof>.
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