Better than grandeur, better than gold, <br />Than rank and titles a thousand fold, <br />Is a healthy body and a mind at ease, <br />And simple pleasures that always please <br />A heart that can feel for another's woe, <br />With sympathies large enough to enfold <br />All men as brothers, is better than gold. <br /> <br />Better than gold is a conscience clear, <br />Though toiling for bread in an humble sphere, <br />Doubly blessed with content and health, <br />Untried by the lusts and cares of wealth, <br />Lowly living and lofty thought <br />Adorn and ennoble a poor man's cot; <br />For mind and morals in nature's plan <br />Are the genuine tests of a gentleman. <br /> <br />Better than gold is the sweet repose <br />Of the sons of toil when the labors close; <br />Better than gold is the poor man's sleep, <br />And the balm that drops on his slumbers deep. <br />Bring sleeping draughts on the downy bed, <br />Where luxury pillows its aching head, <br />The toiler simple opiate deems <br />A shorter route to the land of dreams. <br /> <br />Better than gold is a thinking mind, <br />That in the realm of books can find <br />A treasure surpassing Australian ore, <br />And live with the great and good of yore. <br />The sage's lore and the poet's lay, <br />The glories of empires passed away; <br />The world's great dream will thus unfold <br />And yield a pleasure better than gold. <br /> <br />Better than gold is a peaceful home <br />Where all the fireside characters come, <br />The shrine of love, the heaven of life, <br />Hallowed by mother, or sister, or wife. <br />However humble the home may be, <br />Or tried with sorrow by heaven's decree, <br />The blessings that never were bought or sold, <br />And centre there, are better than gold.<br /><br />Abram Joseph Ryan<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/better-than-gold/
