Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, HUMOR, by LUDWIG FULDA


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

HUMOR, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: God humor is a sturdy sprite
Last Line: I wish him at the devil.
Subject(s): Humor


GOD HUMOR is a sturdy sprite,
To him my faith I proffer;
And though the world go far from right,
I'll leave him for no scoffer.
For he who knows not how to laugh,
He is forsooth a man of chaff,—
Let him not nurse his sorrow,
But drown himself tomorrow.

And though it thunders, and the rack
Of clouds be thick and gloomy,
If I've the rascal on my back,
My comfort's not far from me;
For with his beaming smile of mirth
The contradictions of the earth
He well knows how to banish,
As clouds in sunlight vanish.

And where a dandy, cringing sly,
Some great man's train would follow,
Or where a pack of fools go by
With heads as proud as hollow,—
God Humor sets, as sure as fate
A cap and bells on every pate,
For he's an unseen agent
In every earthly pageant.

He offers spectacles to all
And each who boldly asks there;
He sees the world as carnival,
And all the men as masks there.
The beggar's rags, the prince's braid
Are naught but merry masquerade;
He laughs till tears come dancing
At all such petty prancing.

God Humor is a sturdy sprite,
And why should men abuse him?
His mischief helps the world go right,
So why should we refuse him?
Who lightly smiles, has hope of wit,
Who freely laughs has all of it,
And he who takes it evil,—
I wish him at the devil.





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