The Clouds their Backs together laid 1
The North begun to push
The Forests galloped till they fell
The Lightning played like mice
The Thunder crumbled like a stuff 5
How good to be in Tombs
Where Nature's Temper cannot reach
Nor missile ever comes
The North begun to push
The Forests galloped till they fell
The Lightning played like mice
The Thunder crumbled like a stuff 5
How good to be in Tombs
Where Nature's Temper cannot reach
Nor missile ever comes
(F.1246/J.1172)
[1–5] Clouds, Thunder:: scenes of a storm, or a prison.
[1, 3] Clouds, Forests:: alluding to a group of prisoners.
[4] Lightning:: security light at night.
[5] Thunder:: roars of the guards.
[6] Tombs:: nicknamed of the New York City prison.
[7] narure's Temper cannot:: but the human's can.
[8] Nor missile:: ancient punishment by stone is no more.
NEW YORK CITY PRISON, CALLED "THE TOMBS." The number of commitments to this Prison for one year, ending at the time of inspection by the officers of the government in 1848, was 12,584. ─ Annual Report of the Board of Managers of the Prison Discipline (1849)
Light kept constantly thrown, by night at well as by day, not only upon every spot to which the prisoners have access within the prison, but upon the whole surface of the four surrounding wails. ─ Cobbett's Parliamentary Debates (1812)
