< Ben King's Verse

Fortune came to a youth one day and dressed
  'im
Up in his best. While Society smiled and caressed
  'im,
Along came Toil with a hammer and saw to test 'im--
  And all three pressed 'im.

Manhood came, as it usually does, to bear 'im;
Virtue stole in and sat by his side, but feared 'im;
Ambition came with wonderful schemes and steered
  'im--
  But all three queered 'im.

Wisdom came and knocked at his door; he spurned
  'im.
Frivolity came on bicycle wheels and turned 'im;
Remorse at last came up and stung 'im and burned
  'im--
  And all three churned 'im.

Poverty opened his door and found 'im and sought
  'im;
Paralysis, crouched in a corner, had finally caught
  'im;
Idleness claimed the prize because she'd taught 'im--
  But all three got 'im.

Old Charon rowed up in the Time's canoe and ferried 'im
Over the creek, when an undertaker hurried 'im,
Dropped sand on his box, while a parson talked and
  worried 'im--
  But the whole crowd buried 'im.

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