Poor Man's Lamentation lyrics

Oh earth would be a holy place

A realm for angels fit

Oh were it not for the unquiet race

Who thickly tenant it

There is enough, enough for all

And much beside to spare

Yet hundreds daily, hourly fall

From want and woe and care

The poor men work and plough and till

And cultivate the soil

The rich men reap and spend at will

The profits of their toil

Why is it thus we did create

Lords, Senators and Kings?

To trample down their fellow man

As mean and soulless things

But now alas poor fleeting life

Has made a cheerless scene

Of war and woe and theft and strife

And scarce a joy between

Kingcraft and priestcraft side by side

Reign pregnant through the land

While crime and luxury and pride

March forward hand in hand

Oh sweet Earth thou paradise

Of all things bright and fair

God made thee such but man, Alas

Has filled thee with despair

The earth would be a holy place

As paradise above

Could we but teach the human race

Equality and love