I had been hungry, all the Years－1
My Noon had Come－to dine－
I trembling drew the Table near－
And touched the Curious Wine－
'Twas this on Tables I had seen－5
When turning, hungry, Home
I looked in Windows, for the Wealth
I could not hope－for Mine－
I did not know the ample Bread－9
'Twas so unlike the Crumb
The Birds and I, had often shared
In Nature's－Dining Room－
The Plenty hurt me－'twas so new－13
Myself felt ill－and odd－
As Berry－of a Mountain Bush－
Transplanted－to a Road－
Nor was I hungry－so I found 17
That Hunger－was a way
Of Persons outside Windows－
The Entering－takes away－
My Noon had Come－to dine－
I trembling drew the Table near－
And touched the Curious Wine－
'Twas this on Tables I had seen－5
When turning, hungry, Home
I looked in Windows, for the Wealth
I could not hope－for Mine－
I did not know the ample Bread－9
'Twas so unlike the Crumb
The Birds and I, had often shared
In Nature's－Dining Room－
The Plenty hurt me－'twas so new－13
Myself felt ill－and odd－
As Berry－of a Mountain Bush－
Transplanted－to a Road－
Nor was I hungry－so I found 17
That Hunger－was a way
Of Persons outside Windows－
The Entering－takes away－
(F.439/J.579)
[1–4] I had been hungry:: the narrator was poor, but rich now. Jean Valjean was in prison for stealing bread, and then became rich as a factory owner.
[5–12] I could not hope:: he remembered the hunger before.
[13–16] The Plenty hurt me:: the comparison of hungry and plenty hurt him.
[17–20] Nor was I hungry:: food was on table but he felt no more hungry. Hunger makes crime.