When all that matters shall be written down <br />And the long record of our years is told, <br />Where sham, like flesh, must perish and grow cold; <br />When the tomb closes on our fair renown <br />And priest and layman, sage and motleyed clown <br />Must quit the places which they dearly hold, <br />What to our credit shall we find enscrolled? <br />And what shall be the jewels of our crown? <br />I fancy we shall hear to our surprise <br />Some little deeds of kindness, long forgot, <br />Telling our glory, and the brave and wise <br />Deeds which we boasted often, mentioned not. <br />God gave us life not just to buy and sell, <br />And all that matters is to live it well.<br /><br />Edgar Albert Guest<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/all-that-matters-6/
