All from his cradle to his grave,Poor devil, man's a frightened fool;His Mother talks of imps and ghosts,His Master threatens him at school.When half a man and half a boy,The Law complains of his high blood;And then the Parson threatens himWith hell, unless baptized for good.Soon after, when a married man,He fears the humours of his Spouse;And, when a father, fears to spendOne shilling that his Babes might lose.Then comes Old Age, Lumbago, Gout,Rheumatic Pains that ache and sting:All from his cradle to his grave,Poor devil, man's a frightened thing.
The Life of Man
written byWilliam Henry Davies
© William Henry Davies
