Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE BAR by ANONYMOUS

First Line: THE SALOON IS SOMETIMES CALLED A BAR
Last Line: "A BAR TO HEAVEN, A DOOR TO HELL / WHOEVER NAMED IT, NAMED IT WELL!"
Subject(s): ALCOHOL & ALCOHOLICS;PRISONS & PRISONERS;

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!



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