Chapter 3
poem number three of thirty american poems by various the beggar family by morris rosenfeld this lippervox recording is in the public domain reading by matt the beggar family within the court before the judge there stand six wretched creatures they're lame and weary one and all with pinched and pallid features the father is a broken man the mother weak and ailing the little children skin and bone with fear and hunger wailing their sins are very great and call aloud for retribution for theirs maybe you guess the crime of hopeless destitution they look upon the judge's face they know what judges ponder they know the punishment that waits on those that beg and wander for months from justice they have fled along the streets and highways from farm to farm from town to town along the lanes and byways they've slept full oftentimes in jail they're known in many places yet still they live for all their woe that's stamped upon their faces
the woman's chill with fear the man implores the judge oh tell us what will you with our children small relentlessly expel us oh let us be we'll sleep at night in corners dark the city has room for all and some kind soul will give a crust in pity for wife and children i will toil it cannot be much longer for god almighty is and good ere i for work am stronger oh let us here with men remain nor drive us any further oh why our curses will you have and not our blessings rather and now the sick man quails before the judge's piercing glances no only two of you shall go this time and take your chances your wife and you the children four you'll leave my man behind you for them within the orphans home free places i will find you the father's dumb the mother shrieks my babes and me you'd sever if god there be such cruel act shall find forgiveness never
but first oh judge must you condemn to death their wretched mother i cannot leave my children dear with you or any other i bore and nursed them struggling still to shelter and to shield them oh judge i'll beg from door to door my very life-blood yield them i know you do not mean it judge with us poor folk you're jesting give back my babes and further yet we'll wander unprotesting the judge alas has turned away the paper dread unrolled and useless all the mother's grief the wild and uncontrolled more cruel can a sentence be than that which now is given oh curseth the system neath whose sway the human heart is riven the human heart is riven this recording is in the public domain
