About the poem:
The rhyme scheme in this poem is aabb, except for the first two lines. It reflects on a man’s proposition to unite the Church and the Ale-house to create an atmosphere full of merriment and faith. Although consuming alcohol may lead to sinful act, the speaker believes that alcohol can create a relaxed environment that promotes a connection with God. The speaker in this poem is the vagabond, who is a poor wanderer, possibly with hard times in his past. The vagabond looks towards alcohol to forget his worries, and achieve happiness.
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| Chalice- cup used in church |
The Little Vagabond
Dear Mother, dear Mother, the Church is cold,
But the Ale-house is healthy & pleasant & warm;
Besides I can tell where I am used well,
Such usage in heaven will never do well.
But if at the Church they would give us some Ale,
And a pleasant fire our souls to regale,
We’d sing and we’d pray all the live-long day,
Nor ever once wish from the Church to stray
Then the Parson might preach, & drink, & sing,
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| cup used in ale-house |
And we’d be as happy as birds in the spring;
And modest dame Lurch, who is always at Church,
Would not have bandy children, nor fasting, nor birch.
And God, like a father rejoicing to see
His children as pleasant and happy as he,
Would have no more quarrel with the Devil or the Barrel,
But kiss him, & give him both drink and apparel.
pictures from creativecommons.org