Classic Poem

Haggard harlot! why thus dare
To wage with me eternal war,
Shall I bear it? no, thou strumpet!
Here I swear, in voice like trumpet,
Soon's thou shows thy visage elf,
Meet thy fate and blame thyself.
Did I e'er invite, or wrong thee?
Did I vow e'er to belong t' thee?
Do I welcome? Do I nurse thee?
No, thou ly'st — I hate, I curse thee;
Why, then, black, presumpt'ous ghost,
Why thus stern invade my coast?
Some thou throws but shadows o'er them,
Fly'st thyself, and all adore them.
Why thus partial? If the Muse
Deign, at times, to bless my brows,
I lift the pen — prepare for study,
There thou stares, grim, ghastly, duddy,
Shakes thy rags — begins thy grieving;
Terrifies the Muse to heaven;
Then displays my pockets empty;
Belly worse, and all to tempt me.
Humour — rhyming — headlong scampers —
Rotten stockings — soleless trampers —
Nameless torments — crowds of evils
Grin around, like real Devils.

So disfigur'd, with thy scoffing,
Need I wonder, why so often
Friends go past, nae answer gi'e me,
Look their Watch, and never see me.