God grant I grow not insane:
No better the stick and beggar’s bag:
No better toil and hunger bear.
Not that I upon my reason
Such value place; not that I
Would fain not lose it.
If freedom to me they would leave
How I would lasciviously
For the gloomy forest rush!
In hot delirium I would sing
And unconscious would remain
With ravings wondrous and chaotic.
And listen would I to the waves
And gaze I would full of bliss
Into the empty heavens.
And free and strong then would I be
Like a storm the fields updigging
Forest-trees uprooting.
But here’s the trouble: if crazy once
A fright thou art like pestilence
And locked up now shalt thou be.
To a chain thee fool they’ll fasten
And through the gate a circus beast
Thee to nettle the people come.
And at night not hear shall I
Clear the voice of nightingale
Nor the forest’s hollow sound
But cries alone of companions mine
And the scolding guards of night
And a whizzing of chains a ringing.