FORTUNE came to a youth one day and dressed 'im Up in his best. While Society smiled and caressed 'im, Along came Toil with a hammer and saw to test 'im -- And all three pressed 'im. Manhood came, as it usually does, to beard 'im; Virtue stole in and sat by his side, but feared 'im; Ambition came with wonderful schemes and steered 'im -- But all three queered 'im. Wisdom came and knocked at his door; he spurned 'im. Frivolity came on bicycle wheels and turned 'im; Remorse at last came up and stung 'im and burned 'im -- And all three churned 'im. Poverty opened his door and found 'im and sought 'im; Paralysis, crouched in a corner, had finally caught 'im; Idleness claimed the prize because she'd taught 'im -- But all three got 'im. Old Charon rowed up in Time's canoe and ferried 'im Over the creek, when an undertaker hurried 'im, Dropped sand on his box, while a parson talked and worried 'im -- But the whole crowd buried 'im. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SOMETHING BEYOND by MARY CLEMMER AMES HUDSON THE WHEELING WORLD by JAMES ROBERT ALLEN PEARLS OF THE FAITH: 69. AL-MAKUTADIR by EDWIN ARNOLD SPANISH WINGS: SENOR by H. BABCOCK A BALLAD OF THE HEATHER by WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT AN ELEGY ON THE UNTIMELY DEATH OF THOMAS AYLEWORTH, SLAIN AT CROYDON by WILLIAM BROWNE (1591-1643) THE MOTHER'S HYMN by WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT TOWARDS DEMOCRACY: PART 3. ON THE EVE OF DEPARTURE by EDWARD CARPENTER |