When the world is extremely unpleasant And everything's gone to the bad, Don't dwell on the cares of the present, But look to the future, my lad. Don't sit like a whiner and fretter When luck seems to be in reverse, For it may take a turn for the better If it don't take a turn for the worse! Cheer up! Be a Regular Booster. Chirk up! Be a Stoic—and smile. Brace up! be as brave as a rooster. Head up! Luck will change in a while; Buck up! Break despondency's fetter Though now your hard luck makes you curse; If it don't take a change for the better Why, it may take a change for the worse! So never mind trouble and sorrow Or anything Fate may arrange. Next week—or it may be to-morrow, There may be a radical change! You may get a check in a letter Or you may graft a ride in a hearse; If your luck doesn't turn for the better Then it will take a turn for the worse! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BALLADE AGAINST THE ENEMIES OF FRANCE by FRANCOIS VILLON SONNETS FROM THE PORTUGUESE: 1 by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING DON JUAN: DEDICATION [OR, INVOCATION] by GEORGE GORDON BYRON MARIA WENTWORTH by THOMAS CAREW TOMORROW by FELIX LOPE DE VEGA CARPIO UNEXPECTED FORTUNE by ABUL QASIM OF SILVES |