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...THE MAKING OF MAN by JOHN WHITE CHADWICK THE RHODORA: ON BEING ASKED, WHENCE IS THE FLOWER? by RALPH WALDO EMERSON A SHROPSHIRE LAD: 19. TO AN ATHLETE DYING YOUNG by ALFRED EDWARD HOUSMAN ROBIN HOOD, TO A FRIEND by JOHN KEATS THE LIGHT OF OTHER DAYS by THOMAS MOORE |