An angel burdened with self-pity
Came out of heaven to a modern city.
He saw a beggar on the street,
Where the tides of traffic meet.
A pair of brass-bound hickory pegs
Brought him his pence instead of legs.
A murky dog by him did lie,
Poodle, in part, his ancestry.
The angel stood and thought upon
This poodle-haunted beggar man.
"My life is grown a bore," said he,
"One long round of sciamachy;
I think I'll do a little good,
By way of change from angelhood."
He drew near to the beggar grim,
And gravely thus accosted him:
"How would you like, my friend, to fly
All day through the translucent sky;
To knock at the door of the red leaven,
And even to enter the orthodox heaven?
If you would care to know this joy,
I will surrender my employ,
And take your ills, collect your pelf,
An humble beggar like yourself.
For ages you these joys may know,
While I shall suffer here below;
And in the end we both may gain
Access of pleasure from my pain."
The stationary vagrant said,
"I do not mind, so go ahead."
The angel told the heavenly charm,
He felt a wing on either arm;
"Good-day," he said, "this floating's queer
If I should want to change next year — ?"
"Pull out that feather!" the angel said,
"The one half black and the other half red."
The cripple cried, "Before you're through
You may get fagged, and if you do, — "
The angel superciliously —
"My transformed friend, don't think of me.
I shall be happy day and night,
In doing what I think is right."
"So so," the feathered beggar said,
"Good-bye, I am just overhead."
***
The angel when he grasped the dish,
Began to criticize his wish.
The seat was hard as granite rocks,
His real legs were in the box.
His knees were cramped, his shins were sore,
The lying pegs stuck out before.
In vain he clinked the dish and whined.
The passers-by seemed deaf and blind.
As pious looking as Saint Denis,
An urchin stole his catch-penny.
And even the beggar's drab-fleeced poodle
Began to know him for a noodle.
"It has an uncelestial scent,
The clothing of this mendicant;"
He cried, "That trickling down my spine
Is anything but hyaline.
This day is like a thousand years:
I'd give an age of sighs and tears
To see with his confectioned grin
One cherub sitting on his chin.
That cripple was by far too sly —
I wish he'd tumble from the sky,
That things might be as they were before;
I really cannot stand much more!"
***
The beggar in the angel's guise,
Rose far above the smoky skies.
But being a beggar, never saw
The charm of the compelling law
That turned the swinging universe:
'Twas gloomy as an empty purse.
Often with heaven in his head,
He blundered on a planet dead.
And when with an immortal fuss,
He singed his wings at Sirius.
He plucked the feather with his teeth,
The charm was potent and beneath,
He saw the turmoil of the way
Grown wilder at the close of day,
With the sad poodle, can in hand,
The angel still at the old stand.
"My friend," said the angel, hemming and humming,
"Truly I thought you were never coming."
"That's an unhandsome thing to say,
Seeing I've only been gone a day.
But there's nothing in all your brazen sky
To match the cock of that poodle's eye.
Take your dish and give me my wings,
'Tis but a fair exchange of things."
***
The beggar felt his garment's rot,
The horn ridge of each callous spot;
He clinked his can and was content;
His poverty was permanent.
Poem Analysis:
"The Beggar and the Angel" by Duncan Campbell Scott is a thought-provoking poem that explores themes of perception, sacrifice, and the nature of contentment. Through a narrative that juxtaposes the celestial with the mundane, Scott delves into the complexities of human desires and the consequences of rash decisions.
The Encounter: The poem opens with an angel descending to a modern city and encountering a beggar on the street. The beggar, with hickory pegs instead of legs and a poodle by his side, becomes the focal point of the angel's curiosity and self-reflection.
The Proposal: The angel, burdened with self-pity and seeking change from his monotonous existence, proposes to switch lives with the beggar. He offers the beggar the opportunity to experience the joys of flying and entering heaven, while he himself assumes the beggar's role on Earth.
The Exchange: The beggar, nonchalant and accepting of the proposition, agrees to the exchange. The angel undergoes a transformation, assuming the beggar's appearance and taking hold of his begging dish. Meanwhile, the beggar ascends to the skies with the angel's wings.
Discontent and Realization: As the angel experiences the hardships of the beggar's life—cramped seating, sore limbs, and indifference from passers-by—he begins to regret his decision. Despite his celestial status, he finds himself unable to cope with the challenges of earthly existence.
The Return: Similarly, the beggar, now in the angel's guise, finds himself disillusioned by the vastness and complexity of the universe. He longs for the simplicity and permanence of his former life as a beggar, realizing the value of contentment in poverty.
Themes and Reflections: "The Beggar and the Angel" explores the themes of perception and sacrifice, highlighting the limitations of human understanding and the consequences of impulsive decisions. Through the characters of the angel and the beggar, Scott invites readers to contemplate the nature of happiness and fulfillment, emphasizing the importance of embracing one's own circumstances with gratitude and acceptance.
In conclusion, Duncan Campbell Scott's "The Beggar and the Angel" is a poignant exploration of human desires and the pursuit of contentment. Through its vivid imagery and thought-provoking narrative, the poem offers insights into the complexities of life and the eternal quest for meaning and fulfillment.
