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Poem
July 30, 1870
The Bossier Banner
Benton, Bellevue, Bossier County, Louisiana
What is this article about?
Satirical poem by Rev. John Pierpont criticizing the licensing of alcohol sales, enumerating its devastating effects on health, family, society, and morality, portraying it as enabling weakness, crime, madness, and damnation.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
Licensed to Do What?
BY REV. JOHN PIERPONT
Licensed to make the strong man weak.
Licensed to lay the wise man low,
Licensed a wife's fond heart to break.
And make her children's tears to flow.
Licensed to do thy neighbor harm,
Licensed to kindle hate and strife,
Licensed to nerve the robber's arm,
Licensed to whet the murderer's knife.
Licensed thy neighbor's purse to drain
And on his soul a shadow cast;
Licensed to heat his feverish brain,
Till madness crown thy work at last.
Licensed like a spider for a fly,
To spread thy nets for man, thy prey;
To mock his struggles, drain him dry.
Then cast the worthless husk away.
Licensed where peace and quiet dwell
To bring disease, and want, and woe;
Licensed to make this world a hell,
And fit man for a hell below.
BY REV. JOHN PIERPONT
Licensed to make the strong man weak.
Licensed to lay the wise man low,
Licensed a wife's fond heart to break.
And make her children's tears to flow.
Licensed to do thy neighbor harm,
Licensed to kindle hate and strife,
Licensed to nerve the robber's arm,
Licensed to whet the murderer's knife.
Licensed thy neighbor's purse to drain
And on his soul a shadow cast;
Licensed to heat his feverish brain,
Till madness crown thy work at last.
Licensed like a spider for a fly,
To spread thy nets for man, thy prey;
To mock his struggles, drain him dry.
Then cast the worthless husk away.
Licensed where peace and quiet dwell
To bring disease, and want, and woe;
Licensed to make this world a hell,
And fit man for a hell below.
What sub-type of article is it?
Satire
What themes does it cover?
Temperance Moderation
Moral Virtue
Satire Society
What keywords are associated?
Temperance Poem
Alcohol Harms
Licensing Critique
Moral Satire
Social Woe
What entities or persons were involved?
By Rev. John Pierpont
Poem Details
Title
Licensed To Do What?
Author
By Rev. John Pierpont
Subject
Critique Of Alcohol Licensing
Form / Style
Rhymed Couplets
Key Lines
Licensed To Make The Strong Man Weak.
Licensed To Whet The Murderer's Knife.
Licensed Like A Spider For A Fly,
Licensed To Make This World A Hell,