Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Poetry Wednesday--Robert William Service

This poem by Robert William Service explores the meaning of success and failure.

Successful Failure

I wonder if successful men
Are always happy?
And do they sing with gusto when
Springtime is sappy?
Although I am of snow-white hair
And nighly mortal,
Each time I sniff the April air
I chortle.
I wonder if a millionaire
Jigs with enjoyment,
Having such heaps of time to spare
For daft employment.
For as I dance the Highland Fling
My glee is muckle,
And doping out new songs to sing
I chuckle.
I wonder why so soon forgot
Are fame and riches;
Let cottage comfort be my lot
With well-worn britches.
As in a pub a poor unknown,
Brown ale quaffing,
To think of all I’ll never own,–
I’m laughing.

2 comments:

Barbara Schoeneberger said...

Robert Service was one of my dad's favorite poets. I've always enjoyed him, too. He seems like an interesting person to meet at the pub and quaff ale with.

Staying in Balance said...

I just discovered him for this post. I'll have to read more of his work.

Dymphna's favorite quotes


"Slavery ended in medieval Europe only because the church extended its sacraments to all slaves and then managed to impose a ban on the enslavement of Christians (and of Jews). Within the context of medieval Europe, that prohibition was effectively a rule of universal abolition. "— Rodney Stark

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