I’ve written about how Justice William C. Goodloe set our family on a path of appreciating poetry. One of the first poems he recited for us, and set our children to memorizing, came to mind when we were answering an Ask the Rabbi question. I thought I would share it with you. (This is the version I saw. Pelf is an archaic word for money. I’m not sure if there was so little punctuation in the original.)
The Man in the Glass by Dale Wimbrow
When you get what you want in your struggle for pelf
and the world makes you king for a day
Just go to the mirror and look at yourself
and see what that man has to say
For it isn’t your father or mother or wife
who judgment upon you must pass
The fellow whose verdict counts the most in your life
is the one staring back from the glass
Some people may think you a straight-shooting chum
and call you a wonderful guy
But the guy in the glass says you’re only a bum
if you can’t look him straight in the eye
He’s the fellow 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 man in the glass is your friend
You may fool the whole world down the pathway
of life and get pats on the back as pass
But your final reward will be heartaches and
tears if you’ve cheated the man in the glass.
Read “Myself” by Edgar A Guest
I used this raising 7 kids instead of “write 100 times……”
I know other Guest poems, Lenore, and I will look this one up.
Brilliant answer! Thanks for answering it (and including the poem.)
Thank you, Walt. We are very fond of that poem.
Excellent answer. I appreciate your kindness in answering this youngsters question, while educating and encouraging them to make a different and better choice. The poem at the end is perfect. Thank you.
Glad you liked it, Lorita. We thought Stephanie was showing great character by asking the question.