Page:An epic of women and other poems (IA epicofwomenother00osha).pdf/216

 Yet,—ah's me!—I dare to say That I could not earn my way To the palace of the King.

I was a miner—doomed With a fate branded at birth To serve the King entombed In this dungeon of the Earth: They gave me a thing called Hope, A word written in gold On a talent—precious I'm told; But, if I am to grope All my life long in a mine, What were the use at best Of a bauble just to shine And dangle at my breast?

So I sing, so I sing Here's a jewel for the King!— Let me clear it of the rust; Wrap the gold thing in gold dust: