Poem by Benjamin Franklin King

The Fates

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. 

1. Jane Jones
2. De Sun's Comin' Back
3. The Tramp
4. How Hank Died
5. Gettin' Inter Shape

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