Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, GOLD, by DOUGLAS MALLOCH


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

GOLD, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: I longed for gold, and gold I sought
Last Line: It seems that all I have is gold.
Subject(s): Gold


I longed for gold, and gold I sought,
And gold I found. With gold I bought
More lands and mines I knew to hold
New hopes of wealth, new dreams of gold --
These hills of mine have had to be
Wife, children, home and all to me.

The girl must be a lady now,
The boy be twenty, anyhow.
I send them all the cash they need
To clothe, and educate, and feed,
And buy them luxuries -- and yet
What is the gratitude I get?

A letter every week or so,
Their mother makes them write, I know,
On certain holidays their cards
Inscribed, "To Father, with regards" --
But no affection, not a line
Of love from any child of mine.

There's scarce a thing they can't afford,
And this their thanks, and my reward,
For all the years I've worked and slaved,
And schemed and bargained, fought and saved --
And, now I'm weary, sick and old,
It seems that all I have is gold.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net