The Saloon is sometimes called a Bar, A Bar to heaven, a door to hell Whoever named it, named it well; A Bar to manliness and wealth A door to want and broken health; A Bar to honor, pride and fame A door to grief and sin and shame; A Bar to hope, a bar to prayer A door to darkness and despair; A Bar to honored useful life A door to brawling, senseless strife; A Bar to all that's true and brave A door to every drunkard's grave; A Bar to joys that home imparts A door to tears and aching hearts; A Bar to heaven, a door to hell Whoever named it, named it well! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...VARIATIONS: 12 by CONRAD AIKEN BROTHERHOOD by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON LENTEN GREETING; TO A LADY by GEORGE SANTAYANA TO A PACIFIST FRIEND by GEORGE SANTAYANA THE HOUSE OF DREAMS by SARA TEASDALE MIDNIGHT-BY THE OPEN WINDOW by LOUIS UNTERMEYER FROM THE GREATER TESTAMENT (XXII, XXIII, AND XXVI) by FRANCOIS VILLON |