All from his cradle to his grave, Poor devil, man's a frightened fool; His Mother talks of imps and ghosts, His Master threatens him at school. When half a man and half a boy, The Law complains of his high blood; And then the Parson threatens him With hell, unless baptized for good. Soon after, when a married man, He fears the humours of his Spouse; And, when a father, fears to spend One shilling that his Babes might lose. Then comes Old Age, Lumbago, Gout, Rheumatic Pains that ache and sting: All from his cradle to his grave, Poor devil, man's a frightened thing. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...COMFORT by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING A BOOK OF AIRS: SONG 9 by THOMAS CAMPION IVAN THE CZAR by FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS THE OLD FAMILIAR FACES by CHARLES LAMB VALENTINES TO MY MOTHER: 1878 by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI |