Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE FATES, by BENJAMIN FRANKLIN KING


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE FATES, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Fortune came to a youth one day and dressed
Last Line: But the whole crowd buried 'im.
Alternate Author Name(s): King, Ben
Subject(s): Fates (mythology)


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.





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