Plain Sermons
By James Whitcomb Riley
I saw a man - and envied him beside -
Because of this world's goods he had great store;
But even as I envied him, he died,
And left me envious of him no more.
I saw another man - and envied still -
Because he was content with frugal lot;
But as I envied him, the rich man's will
Bequeathed him all, and envy I forgot.
Yet still another man I saw, and he
I envied for a calm and tranquil mind
That nothing fretted in the least degree -
Until, alas! I found that he was blind.
What vanity is envy! for I find
I have been rich in dross of thought, and poor
In that I was a fool, and lastly blind
For never having seen myself before!