When you get to know a fellow, know his joys and know his cares, <br />When you've come to understand him and the burdens that he bears, <br />When you've learned the fight he's making and the troubles in his way, <br />Then you find that he is different than you thought him yesterday. <br />You find his faults are trivial and there's not so much to blame <br />In the brother that you jeered at when you only knew his name. <br /> <br />You are quick to see the blemish in the distant neighbor's style, <br />You can point to all his errors and may sneer at him the while, <br />And your prejudices fatten and your hates more violent grow <br />As you talk about the failures of the man you do not know, <br />But when drawn a little closer, and your hands and shoulders touch, <br />You find the traits you hated really don't amount to much. <br /> <br />When you get to know a fellow, know his every mood and whim, <br />You begin to find the texture of the splendid side of him; <br />You begin to understand him, and you cease to scoff and sneer, <br />For with understanding always prejudices disappear. <br />You begin to find his virtues and his faults you cease to tell, <br />For you seldom hate a fellow when you know him very well. <br /> <br />When next you start in sneering and your phrases turn to blame, <br />Know more of him you censure than his business and his name; <br />For it's likely that acquaintance would your prejudice dispel <br />And you'd really come to like him if you knew him very well. <br />When you get to know a fellow and you understand his ways, <br />Then his faults won't really matter, for you'll find a lot to praise.<br /><br />Edgar Albert Guest<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/when-you-know-a-fellow/
