Selfish Hearts

Without a thought

If death brings in

Joy for our virtue,

Pain for our sin-

Know this hard truth:

They live on earth

The sweetest life,

Who, rich from birth,

Do the maintain

A selfish mind;

To moans are deaf,

To tears are blind.

Weep for the poor

You find in books:

From living poor

Avert your looks.

Then dance and sing,

Dress, sail or ride;

Go in your coach

To halls of Pride.

A selfish heart,

And rich from birth,

No sweeter life

Can be on earth.

To match thy joy,

There lives but one:

The beggar who

Lives all alone.

With selfish heart,

And shameless, he

Begs bread at huts,

And almshouse tea.

O selfish pair!

I know not which

Is happiest-

So poor, or rich.

The decent poor,

The working mass,

In misery

Their lives must pass.