Work.

Robert Crawford 1959 (Bellshill)



For thyself work, not for another, so
'Tis possible; else all thy worth is his
Whose maybe paltry payment scarce serves to
The base sufficing of thy bed and board:
And all thy days to this sad use are given,
Till age or sickness shall subdue thy pith,
And put thee on the Jewish mercy of
The monstrous world, ere like a brute's, alas!
Thy poor remainder finds a burial.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

21 sec read
349

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABCDEFGHI
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 369
Words 72
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 9

Robert Crawford

Robert Crawford FRSE FBA is a Scottish poet, scholar and critic. He is currently Professor of English at the University of St Andrews.  more…

All Robert Crawford poems | Robert Crawford Books

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    "Work." Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 16 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/30814/work.>.

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