@3Fer them 'at's here in airliest infant stages, It's a hard world: Fer them 'at gits the knocks of boyhood's ages, It's a mean world: Fer them 'at nothin's good enough they're gittin', It's a bad world: Fer them 'at learns at last what's right and fittin', It's a good world.@1 -- THE HIRED MAN IT'S a purty hard world you find, my child -- It's a purty hard world you find! You fight, little rascal! and kick and squall, And snort out medicine, spoon and all! When you're here longer you'll change your mind And simmer down sort o' half-rickonciled. But @3now@1 -- Jee!- @3My!@1-mun-nee! It's a purty hard world, my child! It's a purty mean world you're in, my lad -- It's a purty mean world you're in! We know, of course, in your schoolboy-days It's a world of too many troublesome ways Of tryin' things over and startin' ag'in, -- Yit @3your@1 chance beats what your @3parents@1 had. But @3now@1 -- Oh! Fire-and-tow! It's a purty mean world, my lad! It's a purty bad world you've struck, young chap -- It's a purty bad world you've struck -- But @3study@1 the cards that you hold, you know, And your hopes will sprout and your mustache grow, And your store-clothes likely will change your luck, And you'll rake a rich ladybird into your lap! But @3now@1 -- Doubt All things out. -- It's a purty bad world, young chap! It's a purty good world this is, old man -- It's a purty good world this is! For all its follies and shows and lies -- Its rainy weather, and cheeks likewise, And age, hard-hearin' and rheumatiz. -- @3We're@1 not a-faultin' the Lord's own plan -- All things 's jest At their best. -- It's a purty good world, old man! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE CREMATION OF SAM MCGEE by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE TWELVE SONNETS: 4. LONELY SEASONS by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) PSALM 73: INTRODUCTORY LINES by OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE LETTICE by KATHERINE HARRIS BRADLEY KING AND PEOPLE by CHARLES WILLIAM BRODRIBB |