This is my all time favourite poem.
Note : the word “pelf” means wealth.
The Guy in the Glass
by Dale Wimbrow, (c) 1934
When you get what you want in your struggle for pelf,
And the world makes you King for a day,
Then go to the mirror and look at yourself,
And see what that guy has to say.
For it isn’t your Father, or Mother, or Wife,
Whose judgement upon you must pass.
The feller whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the guy staring back from the glass.
He’s the feller to please, never mind all the rest,
For he’s with you clear up to the end,
And you’ve passed your most dangerous, difficult test
If the guy in the glass is your friend.
You may be like Jack Horner and “chisel” a plum,
And think you’re a wonderful guy,
But the man in the glass says you’re only a bum
If you can’t look him straight in the eye.
You can fool the whole world down the pathway of years,
And get pats on the back as you pass,
But your final reward will be heartaches and tears
If you’ve cheated the guy in the glass.
In grateful memory of our father, the author, Dale Wimbrow 1895-1954
Nice one. Here’s another similar one ..don’t know who the poet is.
‘There’s a God who’s standing at Heaven’s door
He’s looking this Universe o’er
And He sees each mortal with a searching eye
You can’t do wrong and get by
Out into the darkness you alone may go
And seeds for the wicked one sow
There’s an eye thats watching from the throne on high
You can’t do wrong and get by
Yes, He knows your secrets, every thing that you do
He knows that your life is untrue
You can ne’er deceive Him, there’s no use to try
You can’t do wrong and get by.
Harish, thanks for sharing this. Another classic poem 🙂
Regards
Bindu