title: A Seeker's Promise in Poetry, Parables and Prose
author: Carol M Forsloff
description: Carol Forsloff has been a teacher, principal, rehabilitation counselor, musician and journalist over more than seven decades and has been featured in several editions of the Marquis Who's Who and Swarthmore's Who's Who for her many achievements. These achievements came in spite of early beginnings that involved poverty and emotional deprivation and a life that included multiple illnesses and personal tragedies. Through it all, Carol has been an optimistic person, a lover of life and people. Writing is her favorite activity and defines her work across all of her professions, including her music as she has written and performed her own compositions for many years. Although Carol has several books in publication and hundreds of articles, this is her initial venture including poetry in one of her books. Poetry is, she explains, her first love; and at the age of 75 and this book's first printing it is coming full circle from childhood's passion for poetry, as the journey of a seeker often recaptures the essence of one's life in its winter.
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  # The Beggar's Opera
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ### John Gay
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ### INTRODUCTION  
  
  
  
  
  
    
    
    
  
  
  BEGGAR, PLAYER.  
    
   **BEGGAR.** If Poverty be a Title to Poetry, I am sure no-body can  
  
  
  dispute mine. I own myself of the Company of Beggars; and I make one  
  
  
  at their Weekly Festivals at St. Giles's. I have a small Yearly  
  
  
  Salary for my Catches, and am welcome to a Dinner there whenever I  
  
  
  please, which is more than most Poets can say.  
    
   **PLAYER**. As we live by the Muses, it is but Gratitude in us to  
  
  
  encourage Poetical Merit wherever we find it. The Muses, contrary to  
  
  
  all other Ladies, pay no Distinction to Dress, and never partially  
  
  
  mistake the Pertness of Embroidery for Wit, nor the Modesty of Want  
  
  
  for Dulness. Be the Author who he will, we push his Play as far as  
  
  
  it will go. So (though you are in Want) I wish you success heartily.  
    
   **BEGGAR.** This piece I own was originally writ for the celebrati