JIM had a quaint philosophy, <br />'It ain't fer you, it's jes' fer me,' <br />He used to say. 'I don't p'tend <br />T' force it onto foe or friend; <br />I don't advise or recommend <br />This way or that fer him nor you, <br />Or try t' tell you what t' do; <br />But I jes' take myself aside <br />An' teach him tricks he's never tried. <br /> <br />'I kinder take myself in hand <br />An' try t' make him understand <br />That he must do a full day's work, <br />An' ain't got time t' loaf an' shirk; <br />An' when he gets a load of care, <br />His shoulders are the ones t' bear <br />That burden, not his neighbors or <br />Some friend he might go running for. <br /> <br />'I try t' teach myself t' smile, <br />T' whistle every little while, <br />T' take whatever comes his way <br />As his just portion of th' day; <br />An' not complain an' fume an' frown, <br />An' vow th' world is runnin' down <br />An' ragged at th' heel becoz <br />Things ain't as pleasant as they was. <br /> <br />'Fer I've got all that I can do <br />T' keep myself in line; that's true. <br />It ain't fer me t' stand up now <br />An' try t' tell my neighbors how <br />They ought t' live, an' what t' do, <br />T' hold up all their faults t' view. <br />Reformin' others may be fine, <br />But somehow that ain't in my line. <br /> <br />'Yes, I've my own philosophy, <br />But it 's intended jes' fer me; <br />It's made t' keep myself in line, <br />T make me never show a sign <br />Of fear or cowardice when things <br />Go wrong or untold sorrow stings, <br />An' that is all that I can do — <br />You'll have t' say what's best fer you.'<br /><br />Edgar Albert Guest<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/his-philosophy/
