The Pavement Stones (A Song Of The Unemployed)

When first I came to town, resolved     To fight my way alone,     No prouder foot than mine eer trod     Upon the pavement stone;     But I am one in thousands,     And why should I repine?     The pavement stones have broken springs     In stronger feet than mine.     I brought to aid me all the hope     And energy of youth;     And in my heart I felt the strength     Of plain bucolic truth:     The independence nourished     Amid the hills and trees     But, ah! the city hath a cure     For qualities like these.     I wonder oft how eer I made     The efforts that I made,     For after three long weary years     I taught myself a trade.     And two more years and I was free     With strength and hope elate,     For he that hath a trade, they say,     Hath also an estate.     I tramped the streets and looked for work     And begged for work in vain,     Until I recked not, though I neer     Might touch my tools again.     I tramped the streets despairing;     My cheeks grew white and thin;     I felt the pavement wearing through     The leather, sock, and skin.     The bitter war goes on between     The idlers and the drones,     Until the hearts of men grow cold     And hard as pavement stones;     But I am one amid the crowd,     Then why should I repine?     The pavement stones have broken springs     In stronger feet than mine.