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21 Sep: "A Lame Begger" by John Donne

I am unable, yonder beggar cries,
To stand, or move; if he say true, he lies.

1 comment:

  1. I like the title and poem a lot more with a slang interpretation of the word "lame" as a pun. The beggar is lame, not impressive, as he cannot find a better excuse or explanation for his needing to beg. Unlike the many humorous images that float around of web of the signs saying something like "ninjas killed my family. need money for karate lessons." I wonder if lame had both meanings when Donne wrote this poem.

    If the beggar is physically lame, as in physically unable do to age or illness, Donne just sounds like a jerk.

    In our times, myself definitely included, we are very skeptical of beggars. Are they actually in need or just lazy? Or drug addicts or winos? I think mental illness is largely responsible many homeless, but I also know that begging and homelessness are not synonymous.

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