I Sit and Look Out

I sit and look out upon all the sorrows of the world, and
　　　　　upon all oppression and shame;
I hear secret convulsive sobs from young men, at anguish
　　　　　with themselves, remorseful after deeds done;
I see, in low life, the mother misused by her children, dying,
　　　　　neglected, gaunt, desperate;
I see the wife misused by her husband--I see the treacherous
　　　　　seducer of young women;
I mark the ranklings of jealousy and unrequited love,
　　　　　attempted to be hid--I see these sights on the earth; 5
I see the workings of battle, pestilence, tyranny--I see
　　　　　martyrs and prisoners;
I observe a famine at sea--I observe the sailors casting lots
　　　　　who shall be kill’d, to preserve the lives of the rest;
I observe the slights and degradations cast by arrogant
　　　　　persons upon laborers, the poor, and upon
　　　　　negroes, and the like;
All these--All the meanness and agony without end,
　　　　　I sitting, look out upon,
See, hear, and am silent