Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Literary
October 8, 1817
Daily National Intelligencer
Washington, District Of Columbia
What is this article about?
A parody poem in which the aging Lower Bridge of Georgetown personifies itself, petitioning citizens for repairs due to decay and neglect, lamenting human ingratitude while recalling its service.
Clipping
OCR Quality
92%
Excellent
Full Text
FOR THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
The Humble Petition of the Lower Bridge of Georgetown, to all whom it may concern.
[A PARODY.]
Pity the sorrows of a poor old bridge,
Whose trembling limbs can scarcely bear you o'er;
Whose aching back has lost the rising ridge——
Oh! pray renew me—Heav'n will bless your store.
These parting planks must poverty bespeak;
These piles decay'd proclaim my lengthen'd years;
And, as ye pass me, many a doleful creak Denotes my anguish and my way-worn fears.
Yon bridge, erected on the rising ground,
That, like a son, once kindly deign'd to share The various burthens in life's weary road,
Has left me in a world of toil and care.
Hard is my fate-in age. infirm and poor,
To lose the aid of him who shar'd my woes;
The sweep ng flood remov'd him-I deplore-
But double service soon my life will close.
Oft, when you've sought your hospitable home,
And rattling wheels across my back have driv'n I've borne you safe; but now my wretched doom Is rotten frame work-planks asunder riv'n
Should I reveal the sources of my grief.
If soft humanity e'er touch'd your breast,
Your hands would not withhold the kind relief And tears of pity would not be represt.
Heav'n sends misfortunes —I will not repine That he who shar'd my burthens is remov'd.
For soon his suff'rings would have been like mine,
When age, with man's ingratitude, he prov'd
Of man, ungrateful man, I most complain:
Who all my youth of strength and manhood shar'd;
Subservient to their pleasure, business, gain,
I, unrepining, bore each service hard.
They saw my wasting strength, my slow decay,
With ev'ry symptom that to age belong;
They saw disease increasing day by day,
But forc'd my labors still, with cruel wrong
Now, robb'd of ev'ry solace of my care,
I groaning, reeling, bending, bear my doom;
No friendly hands my broken planks repair;
I fall, by piece-meal, in the silent tomb.
Ye citizens, for whom my passive powers Have long obedient to your wishes prov'd,
Regard a friend, whose eve of life now low'rs,
By interest once be your compassion mov'd.
Pity the sorrows of a poor old bridge,
Whose trembling limbs scarce bear you safely o'er,
Whose creaking back has lost the rising ridge;
Oh! pray renew me—Heav'n will bless your store.
Centre Arch, between Washington and Georgetown, Oct. 4.
The Humble Petition of the Lower Bridge of Georgetown, to all whom it may concern.
[A PARODY.]
Pity the sorrows of a poor old bridge,
Whose trembling limbs can scarcely bear you o'er;
Whose aching back has lost the rising ridge——
Oh! pray renew me—Heav'n will bless your store.
These parting planks must poverty bespeak;
These piles decay'd proclaim my lengthen'd years;
And, as ye pass me, many a doleful creak Denotes my anguish and my way-worn fears.
Yon bridge, erected on the rising ground,
That, like a son, once kindly deign'd to share The various burthens in life's weary road,
Has left me in a world of toil and care.
Hard is my fate-in age. infirm and poor,
To lose the aid of him who shar'd my woes;
The sweep ng flood remov'd him-I deplore-
But double service soon my life will close.
Oft, when you've sought your hospitable home,
And rattling wheels across my back have driv'n I've borne you safe; but now my wretched doom Is rotten frame work-planks asunder riv'n
Should I reveal the sources of my grief.
If soft humanity e'er touch'd your breast,
Your hands would not withhold the kind relief And tears of pity would not be represt.
Heav'n sends misfortunes —I will not repine That he who shar'd my burthens is remov'd.
For soon his suff'rings would have been like mine,
When age, with man's ingratitude, he prov'd
Of man, ungrateful man, I most complain:
Who all my youth of strength and manhood shar'd;
Subservient to their pleasure, business, gain,
I, unrepining, bore each service hard.
They saw my wasting strength, my slow decay,
With ev'ry symptom that to age belong;
They saw disease increasing day by day,
But forc'd my labors still, with cruel wrong
Now, robb'd of ev'ry solace of my care,
I groaning, reeling, bending, bear my doom;
No friendly hands my broken planks repair;
I fall, by piece-meal, in the silent tomb.
Ye citizens, for whom my passive powers Have long obedient to your wishes prov'd,
Regard a friend, whose eve of life now low'rs,
By interest once be your compassion mov'd.
Pity the sorrows of a poor old bridge,
Whose trembling limbs scarce bear you safely o'er,
Whose creaking back has lost the rising ridge;
Oh! pray renew me—Heav'n will bless your store.
Centre Arch, between Washington and Georgetown, Oct. 4.
What sub-type of article is it?
Poem
Satire
Soliloquy
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Death Mortality
Political
What keywords are associated?
Bridge Petition
Parody
Georgetown
Decay
Ingratitude
Renewal
Human Neglect
Literary Details
Title
The Humble Petition Of The Lower Bridge Of Georgetown
Subject
Petition For Bridge Repair
Key Lines
Pity The Sorrows Of A Poor Old Bridge,
Whose Trembling Limbs Can Scarcely Bear You O'er;
Whose Aching Back Has Lost The Rising Ridge——
Oh! Pray Renew Me—Heav'n Will Bless Your Store.
Of Man, Ungrateful Man, I Most Complain:
Who All My Youth Of Strength And Manhood Shar'd;
Subservient To Their Pleasure, Business, Gain,
I, Unrepining, Bore Each Service Hard.
Pity The Sorrows Of A Poor Old Bridge,
Whose Trembling Limbs Scarce Bear You Safely O'er,
Whose Creaking Back Has Lost The Rising Ridge;
Oh! Pray Renew Me—Heav'n Will Bless Your Store.