Page:The Statues in the Block and Other Poems (1881).djvu/28



GREAT rich city of power and pride, With streets full of traders, and ships on the tide; With rich men and workmen and judges and preachers, The shops full of skill and the schools full of teachers.

The people were proud of their opulent town: The rich men spent millions to bring it renown; The strong men built and the tradesmen planned; The shipmen sailed to every land; The lawyers argued, the schoolmen taught, And a poor shy Poet his verses brought, And cast them into the splendid store.

The tradesmen stared at his useless craft; The rich men sneered and the strong men laughed;