So easy to say what another should do, <br />So easy to settle his cares, <br />So easy to tell him what roads to pursue, <br />And dispose of the burdens he bears. <br />It is easy to bid him be brave and strong, <br />And to make all his shortcomings known; <br />But O, it's so hard when the care and the wrong <br />And the dangers we face are our own. <br /> <br />It is easy to stand in another man's place, <br />When our comforts of life are assured, <br />And the sting of the rain beating sharp in his face <br />By him must be bravely endured. <br />It is easy to tell him the path he should take <br />And to bid him to laugh at his care, <br />But O, it's so hard when it's our hearts that ache <br />And we have the burdens to bear. <br /> <br />We all know the things that another should do, <br />His faults are like books on our shelves, <br />We can ponder them over and read and review, <br />But we haven't a book on ourselves. <br />We can settle the other man's troubles each day, <br />His griefs we can calmly discuss, <br />It is easy to sweep all his troubles away, <br />But we can't do the same thing for us. <br /> <br />The need of another it's easy to see, <br />When our own wants are all satisfied, <br />And bold and courageous it's easy to be <br />When it isn't our souls that are tried. <br />But O, it's so hard when we're stumbling along <br />To keep ourselves steadfast and true; <br />It is easy to tell someone else to be strong, <br />It's easier to talk than to do.<br /><br />Edgar Albert Guest<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/so-easy-2/
