Poetry of Elliott
Ebenezer Elliott
born 1781, died 1849
"The Corn Law Rhymer"
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The Steam-Engine
(from "steam, at sheffield")
- Upstart of Yesterday!
Thou doubler of the rent of every farm,
From John o' Groat's to Cornwall's farthest bay!
Engine of Watt! unrivall'd is thy sway.
Compared with thine, what is the tyrant's power?
His might destroys, while thine creates and saves.
Thy triumphs live and grow, like fruit and flower;
But his are writ in blood, and read on graves!
Let him yoke all his regimented slaves,
And bid them strive to wield thy tireless fly,
As thou canst wield it. Soon his baffled bands
Would yield to thee, despite his wrathful eye.
Lo! unto thee both Indies lift their hands!
Thy vapour pulse is felt on farthest strands!
Thou tirest not, complainest not - though blind
As human pride (earth's lowest dust) art thou.
Child of pale thought! dread masterpiece of mind!
I read nor thought nor passion on thy brow!
To-morrow thou wilt labour, deaf as now!
And must we say "that soul is wanting here?"
No; there he moves, the thoughtful engineer,
The soul of all this motion; rule in hand,
And coarsely apron'd - simple, plain, sincere -
An honest man; selfaught to understand
The useful wonders which he built and plann'd.
>> Ebenezer Elliott |
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