The poor man's sins are glaring; <br />In the face of ghostly warning <br />He is caught in the fact <br />Of an overt act--- <br />Buying greens on a Sunday morning. <br /> <br />The rich man's sins are hidden <br />In the pomp of wealth and station; <br />And escape the sight <br />Of the children of light, <br />Who are wise in their generation. <br /> <br />The rich man has a kitchen, <br />And cooks to dress his dinner; <br />The poor who would roast <br />To the baker's must post, <br />And thus becomes a sinner. <br /> <br />The rich man has a cellar, <br />And a ready butler by him; <br />The poor man must steer <br />For his pint of beer <br />Where the saint can't choose but to spy him. <br /> <br />The rich man's painted windows <br />Hide the concerts of the quality; <br />The poor can but share <br />A crack'd fiddle in the air, <br />Which offends all sound morality. <br /> <br />The rich man is invisible <br />In the crowd of his gay society; <br />But the poor man's delight <br />Is a sore in the sight, <br />And a stench in the nose of piety.<br /><br />Thomas Love Peacock<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/rich-poor-or-saint-sinner/
