IN the work-a-day world, with its woful greed, With its quarrel for power, its itch for gold, There is profit and loss, there is want and need, There is selfishness ever, there's bought and sold. But at home, when Dan Phoebus withdraws his light, With the jovial gods and their fond commune; When companions and kinsfolk make all things right, Then moveth the heart to its own sweet tune. When severe disappointments in well earned meed Have bedarkened the sun, made the moon grow old; Where the beauty of life's but a worthless weed, There is selfishness ever, there's bought and sold. But the turmoil well ended, and come the night, When with witty, wise words through the converse strewn, Thou art sitting apart with a maiden bright, Then moveth the heart to its own sweet tune. When old Mammon's thy master, and pelf the seed Thou art sowing to give thee on heav'n a hold; When "thy left hand knoweth," 't is there indeed There is selfishness ever, there's bought and sold. But whenever from loving blue eyes the sight Of a soul to a soul is flashed, ne'er too soon, Then the blood courseth strong in very delight, Then moveth the heart to its own sweet tune. @3L'Envoi@1 When o'ercovered with depth of Philistine mould, There is selfishness ever, there's bought and sold. But with friends and fair maidens and love's dear boon, Then moveth the heart to its own sweet tune. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...GOING FOR WATER by ROBERT FROST DIBDIN'S GHOST by EUGENE FIELD A SHROPSHIRE LAD: 48 by ALFRED EDWARD HOUSMAN TELLING THE BEES (A COLONIAL CUSTOM) by LIZETTE WOODWORTH REESE AUBADE [OR, A MORNING SONG FOR IMOGEN], FR. CYMBELINE by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE FRAGMENT OF A CHORUS OF A DEJANEIRA by MATTHEW ARNOLD |