THE GUY IN THE GLASS

When you get what you want in your struggle for pelf,*
And the world makes you king for a day,
Then go to the mirror and look at yourself,
And see what that guy has to say.

For it isn’t your father, or mother, or wife,
Whose judgment upon you must pass,
The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the guy staring back from the glass.

He’s the fellow to please, never mind all the rest
For he’s with you clear up to the end,
And you’ve passed your most dangerous, difficult test
If the guy in the glass is your friend.

You may be like Jack Horner and “chisel” a plum,
And think you’re a wonderful guy,
But the man in the glass says you’re only a bum
If you can’t look him straight in the eye.

You can fool the whole world down the pathway of years,
And get pats on the back as you pass,
But your final reward will be heartaches and tears
If you’ve cheated the guy in the glass.

* ‘pelf’ is a derogatory or jocular word for money or wealth
(Oxford Dictionary)

© 1934 by Dale Wimbrow
1895 – 1954

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