A man is a fool in his youth, my son, And none is wise till his course be run; For a woman's eyes or the gleam of gold Will dazzle his wits till he 's old—so old! And the flirt of a skirt or the thrill of a song Will soften his heart for long—so long! And a woman's sighs or a woman's tears Will make him a slave for years and years. A man is a fool at worst—and best— And his life is a grim and a guilty jest, With a gush of joy or a gasp of pain, And the round of his labor, and over again; But his toil grows less and his griefs depart When he feels the throb of a comrade heart, And his life is a beautiful vision while He lives in the light of a loved one's smile. A man is a fool, for his pride and greed Will take him beyond his farthest need, And the bauble of wealth or the bubble fame Will he seek to his grief or lasting shame; But a woman's love is of all the earth Man's rightful gift and of greatest worth, And who studies the world in his dear love's eyes Is happy indeed, and wise—so wise! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BAD CHILD'S BOOK OF BEASTS: INTRODUCTION by HILAIRE BELLOC THE BIRTH OF VENUS by HAYDEN CARRUTH ONE FAVORED ACORN by ROBERT FROST DRIVING INTO LARAMIE by JAMES GALVIN A BANJO SONG by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON |