'Oh Who is that Young Sinner?' by AE Housman

Completely new to me, Allan tells me that the poem was published in veiled support for Oscar Wilde after his removal to Reading Gaol and his sentence of two years hard labour.

By coincidence, the reference to Portland is interesting. Last evening I learned that the borstal at Portland was the most feared establishment for young offenders in Simon Day's astonishing autobiography. 

I got the book because of his appearances on 'The Fast Show' and other comedy programs. It is very, very funny as you would expect but the story (I'm only a third of the way through) is extremely harrowing in many respects and the confessions of his disabilities, family break-up, criminality and addictions is told with brutal honesty, self awareness and total credibility. 

I am looking forward to things getting better for him in the next few chapters.

A young sinner indeed.

Oh Who Is That Young Sinner

Oh who is that young sinner with the handcuffs on his wrists?

And what has he been after that they groan and shake their fists?

And wherefore is he wearing such a conscience-stricken air?

Oh they're taking him to prison for the colour of his hair.

'Tis a shame to human nature, such a head of hair as his;

In the good old time 'twas hanging for the colour that it is;

Though hanging isn't bad enough and flaying would be fair

For the nameless and abominable colour of his hair.

Oh a deal of pains he's taken and a pretty price he's paid

To hide his poll or dye it of a mentionable shade;

But they've pulled the beggar's hat off for the world to see and stare,

And they're haling him to justice for the colour of his hair.

Now 'tis oakum for his fingers and the treadmill for his feet

And the quarry-gang on Portland in the cold and in the heat,

And between his spells of labour in the time he has to spare

He can curse the God that made him for the colour of his hair.

A.E. Housman