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Literary
February 22, 1821
The Alexandrian: A Commercial, Agricultural And Literary Journal
Alexandria, District Of Columbia
What is this article about?
A reflective poem personifying an old, ragged coat as a loyal companion that shields the speaker from weather and societal disdain, emphasizing themes of fidelity, moral virtue, and judgment in this life and the next.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
Retreat of the Muses.
FROM THE MISCELLANEOUS POEMS OF THE BOSY BARD.
TO MY OLD COAT.
Long time has passed, old ragged friend,
Since first we met together;
And thou to me thy aid didst lend,
To shield me from the weather.
The dandy, as he passes by,
Condemns each ragged feature
And modest virtue, with a sigh,
Exclaims—'Oh, wretched creature!'
The ladies—kind, obliging souls,
As thro' the streets they dash on,
Whene'er they view thy thousand holes,
Cry—'mending's out of fashion!'
But since thou'st been a friend in need,
Thro' half life's rugged journey,
'Twould be a graceless thing indeed,
Now out of doors to turn thee.
Nay, nay, old friend—'tis better now,
To brave the world's dread laughter
Than e'er to thoughtless folly bow,
And meet with scorn hereafter.
The purse-proud wretch who turns aside
And spurns a hapless brother,
Will feel the sting of injured pride,
In this world, or the other.
And he who leaves an aged friend,
Forgotten or neglected,
May find himself, when earth shall end,
By heaven itself rejected.
Then come, old friend, for thou can'st yet
Part shield me from the weather;
And when the sun of life shall set,
We'll both lie down together.
And when the last dread trump shall sound,
And dawn the morn of terrors,
Oh, then may'st thou in heaven be found,
Meet offering for my errors.
FROM THE MISCELLANEOUS POEMS OF THE BOSY BARD.
TO MY OLD COAT.
Long time has passed, old ragged friend,
Since first we met together;
And thou to me thy aid didst lend,
To shield me from the weather.
The dandy, as he passes by,
Condemns each ragged feature
And modest virtue, with a sigh,
Exclaims—'Oh, wretched creature!'
The ladies—kind, obliging souls,
As thro' the streets they dash on,
Whene'er they view thy thousand holes,
Cry—'mending's out of fashion!'
But since thou'st been a friend in need,
Thro' half life's rugged journey,
'Twould be a graceless thing indeed,
Now out of doors to turn thee.
Nay, nay, old friend—'tis better now,
To brave the world's dread laughter
Than e'er to thoughtless folly bow,
And meet with scorn hereafter.
The purse-proud wretch who turns aside
And spurns a hapless brother,
Will feel the sting of injured pride,
In this world, or the other.
And he who leaves an aged friend,
Forgotten or neglected,
May find himself, when earth shall end,
By heaven itself rejected.
Then come, old friend, for thou can'st yet
Part shield me from the weather;
And when the sun of life shall set,
We'll both lie down together.
And when the last dread trump shall sound,
And dawn the morn of terrors,
Oh, then may'st thou in heaven be found,
Meet offering for my errors.
What sub-type of article is it?
Poem
Soliloquy
What themes does it cover?
Friendship
Social Manners
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Ragged Coat
Loyal Friend
Social Scorn
Moral Fidelity
Heavenly Judgment
What entities or persons were involved?
From The Miscellaneous Poems Of The Bosy Bard
Literary Details
Title
To My Old Coat
Author
From The Miscellaneous Poems Of The Bosy Bard
Key Lines
Long Time Has Passed, Old Ragged Friend,
Since First We Met Together;
And Thou To Me Thy Aid Didst Lend,
To Shield Me From The Weather.
And When The Last Dread Trump Shall Sound,
And Dawn The Morn Of Terrors,
Oh, Then May'st Thou In Heaven Be Found,
Meet Offering For My Errors.