William Kennish

Reflections on Man (I’ve ofttimes thought why mortal man)

I’ve ofttimes thought why mortal man, 
Whose fleeting life is but a span 
      Of vast eternity, 
Should strive his brother to oppress  
While trav’lling through this wilderness  
      Of dread obscurity. 
 
In ages past, when we were not, 
Our foresires lived, tho’ now forgot  
      Within their lowly bed, 
And so shall we, as well as they, 
Each in our turn soon pass away  
      To moulder with the dead. 
 
Then, brothers, while we travel here, 
Let us the common blessings share, 
      And banish sordid gain; 
It is the fount of earthly joy  
Man’s fleeting moments to employ  
      To ease his brother’s pain. 
 
All that weak man requires below  
His Maker kindly doth bestow, 
      And gives it free to all, —  
The fish, the fowl, the beast, the field, 
Abundant food for him doth yield  
      At labour’s simple call. 
 
Then why should not mankind unite 
To help each other with delight  
      Along life’s dreary road, 
And drive Oppression’s iron hand 
From ev’ry realm throughout the land  
      Of our terrene abode? 
 
How better far mankind might be  
If they the bad effects would see  
      Of ill-begotten wealth, 
For, to accumulate a store 
Unjustly of the glittering ore  
      Is worse than craft, or stealth.