The cold within poem of treasure trove
Answers
"The Cold Within" was written in the 1960s by an American poet known as James Patrick Kinney.
Stanza 1
Six humans trapped by happenstance
Six humans trapped by happenstanceIn bleak and bitter cold.
Six humans trapped by happenstanceIn bleak and bitter cold.Each one possessed a stick of wood
Six humans trapped by happenstanceIn bleak and bitter cold.Each one possessed a stick of woodOr so the story’s told.
Stanza 2
Their dying fire in need of logs
Their dying fire in need of logsThe first man held his back
Their dying fire in need of logsThe first man held his backFor of the faces round the fire
Their dying fire in need of logsThe first man held his backFor of the faces round the fireHe noticed one was black.
Stanza 3
The next man looking ‘cross the way
The next man looking ‘cross the waySaw one not of his church
The next man looking ‘cross the waySaw one not of his churchAnd couldn’t bring himself to give
The next man looking ‘cross the waySaw one not of his churchAnd couldn’t bring himself to giveThe fire his stick of birch.
Stanza 4
The third one sat in tattered clothes.
The third one sat in tattered clothes.He gave his coat a hitch.
The third one sat in tattered clothes.He gave his coat a hitch.Why should his log be put to use
The third one sat in tattered clothes.He gave his coat a hitch.Why should his log be put to useTo warm the idle rich?
Stanza 5
The rich man just sat back and thought
The rich man just sat back and thoughtOf the wealth he had in store
The rich man just sat back and thoughtOf the wealth he had in storeAnd how to keep what he had earned
The rich man just sat back and thoughtOf the wealth he had in storeAnd how to keep what he had earnedFrom the lazy shiftless poor
Stanza 6
The black man’s face bespoke revenge
The black man’s face bespoke revengeAs the fire passed from his sight.
The black man’s face bespoke revengeAs the fire passed from his sight.For all he saw in his stick of wood
The black man’s face bespoke revengeAs the fire passed from his sight.For all he saw in his stick of woodWas a chance to spite the white.
Stanza 7
The last man of this forlorn group
The last man of this forlorn groupDid nought except for gain.
The last man of this forlorn groupDid nought except for gain.Giving only to those who gave
The last man of this forlorn groupDid nought except for gain.Giving only to those who gaveWas how he played the game.
Stanza 8
Their logs held tight in death’s still hands
Their logs held tight in death’s still handsWas proof of human sin.
Their logs held tight in death’s still handsWas proof of human sin.They didn’t die from the cold without
Their logs held tight in death’s still handsWas proof of human sin.They didn’t die from the cold withoutThey died from the cold within.