Rich Or Poor

The smiles of children stamped in the mint of memory are the coin of the realm of happiness!

 

My great grandfather and grandmother Ben and Babe Morgan Circa 1920s

A rich man's son inherits want

with no desire to work hands bare

Gives the job to another man

to look out from his easy chair

 

A poor man's son inherits grace

born of toil and sweat of his brow

He adjudged of hard earned merit

pushes on what body will allow

 

The rich man's son inherits greed

with what malice it may entail

Thinking others beneath his station

for lack of character he does ail

 

The poor man's son inherits kindness

which with all others level stands

Then asks the outcast bless his door

to share the fruit of his two hands

 

Heir to what is the rich man's son

tender flesh that fears the cold

To the poor never gives his time

nor dare he wear a garment old

 

Inheriting, it seems to me

what no good man would wish to be

 

Heir to what is the poor man's son

strong muscles and pounding heart

Chipped of a marble character

beloved by all he touched in part

 

Inheriting, it seems to me

what all good men would wish to be

No claim to copyright fair use assumed

Author's Note

It isn't that rich people are per-say bad. Nor that poor people are good. It is the human condition that sets up society by stature. And counts wealth by monetary gain. Money is never happiness. Yet we are told all the time that it is. Look around you. See the multitudes rushing to amass their fortunes. And for what. Women who followed Gloria Steinem's ideals that you can have it all are miserable. Why? Because you can't have it all. You can't spend a life climbing the corporate ladder. Waiting to reach some plateau in your late 30s and then start a family. Children are not easy to raise. Nor cheap to keep in health and happiness. So why does money seem to make so many crazy and so many unhappy? Because money can't hold a hand. Money can't read a child's bedtime story. And money cannot make memories that last a lifetime. Shared life does that. Family does that. Descendants are the answer to selflessness. I cannot forget the look of a child's face who waited for dad to come pick him up when we were children. Only to hear again and again dad was too busy to come get him. How long do we think we will live? Not long. The dreams of happiness preached on wall street are the lies that will not live forever neither will we. The smiles of children stamped in the mint of memory are the coin of the realm of happiness!
Tate

Reviews

[Hanan_Maliah]

My man Tate..I have actually read this through more then once...it is to be reflected upon with more then a first glance. This understanding of being rich and having the world laid at your feet has for eternity been taken in stride...BUT...when you have toiled with your hands to bring your worth it is only then that you become RICH...those that believe the word rich applies solely to monetary gains are in fact poor...I would far rather be rich in mind and spirit enough to enjoy a fresh rain that has kissed the sweetest of roses bringing forth the decadence of scent burnt into memory that only a rose can bring then to be delivered a dozen cut, wrapped, or vased only to die...even then I would try to dry them so their existence is captured in time. I have often told men "Money neither impresses me or keep me...clothes do not make the man but are held together by a simple thread...it is the man himself do not have me find you lacking!" This said I would then ask who is truly rich and sorry to say really the poor..........

[Tate Morgan]

You are a peach I lay my pen in reverence upon the ground beside your feet

[Seashell]

This is so true and not all, will have the ability to comprehend. Your heart is full and running over.
Bless you Tate x

[Tate Morgan]

Babs. hi kiddo. Alls well how are you? So nice to hear from you

[Seashell]

Great!! All good thank you! Chat soon x

[Kathy Van Kurin]

"Rich or Poor"
Tate Morgan,
Your well thought out poem is so needed for it speaks to the need for work, courage, and responsibility. To find treasure in the love of family and friends is worth so much! Your author's not is also true. I have never been so wealthy but my inner essence does seek good and needs to see the result of work. Bless you much! Kathy

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you Kathy I have given this much thought over to you. Rather than amassing fortune I have spent my life giving it away and spending all my time with my children and grandchildren. I won’t need rewarded in the end my life is my own reward

[Temperance]

This is a great poem, Tate! The strength of a man is his character and, that which is found of the poor man, in your poem, has that strength of character. I'd rather be known for my character than how much money I have (or don't). Great message! Temp

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you. I know many would not embrace these ideas. However I learned these things from living through them. I appreciate your thoughts.

[Temperance]

You’re welcome.

[M. J. Smith]

I remember a time when we are nothing but beans for weeks on end. All we could afford. And yet... I never wished to be rich. Too much trouble.
Scrooge: Why should you be so merry when you have so little?
Fred: Why should you be so miserable when you have so much?
Of the two, I'd rather be Fred! Well, beautifully written sentiments. Ones a great many people need to read. Thank you for putting this out there.

[Tate Morgan]

After my first marriage and divorce my son who stayed with me came to tell me later that he enjoyed the struggles we had. And that they had made him a stronger man.

[Soren]

This is a wonderful poem. I'm putting it as one of my favorites. It is very well written. Its organization is solid, its meter and rhyme are excellent and it has a wonderful theme. Very well done

[Tate Morgan]

thank you Soren

[Soren]

most welcom

[Onlyme]

So very true in your definitions of the rich and poor. Nothing more to say. You said it with style, class and charm. Bravo Tate.

[Tate Morgan]

Hi Dawn thank you . I dont dislike the rich. I dislike seeing poor walk the streets while we live in the richest country in the history of the world

[Onlyme]

I know what you mean Tate, iam the exact same.

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you Dawn

[Cherrie]

Ya know the rich man can be so poor all he has is money.

[Tate Morgan]

Hi Cherrie Seems we have supplanted our religious views and our god has become money. I dont understand it.

[Cherrie]

Me either, we have taken keeping up with the Jones to a whole new level.

[Einstein Noodle]

can we get an Amen? ;) we all need a healthy attitude toward material things for sure ...its not that money is bad ...its the love of money that does us in on so many levels ... we are so fortunate in the USA to be afforded the choices and choose to have the drive for one thing or another .. even the best Socialist inherently values the dollar by saying who and who doesn't have the "right amount" ..and you know darn well Bernie Sanders is not a poor man ... even the public "peek" at him ..tells us so ... there is a level at which we are disenfranchised ... many, many, many in the middle class struggled and are struggling to get past day to day, month to month living ... i think it isn't until one gets to a three month cushion that we can begin to explore our other "gifts" ... poets and artists throughout history have needed a wealthy counterpart to support them if they were to pursue their gift full time ... your poem and your notes have given me much to think about sir ... you have a tender caring heart says i! ;)
E.
ps. are you dusting off your bike yet? :))

[Tate Morgan]

Gene Bernie is not poor. He is a senator.He did come from abject poverty and rent controlled housing. I wrote this of him
What is the value of a life that is built upon the shattered dreams of others? This man Bernie Sanders the voice of our past who has been crying out to us for half a century with a sound that echos the tears from every patriot grave. Saying " put away your swords. Beat to plowshares our weapons and pick up the sad the lonely the poor." With what nobility can we claim superiority without compassion? Successful society is not built upon the admiration of the rich and youthful. It is built upon the dignity of human life.

His is a struggle so deep, so profound. I can't think of any other who at his advanced age has labored with so many burdens. It is little enough for the rest of us to support him. He is our champion. From a grateful nation I simply report the cry that started as a whisper. Echoed out over the hills like notes from far flung rain. till it became a torrent.

Don't wait till your life is all done
to learn the lessons of a fool
Know the rewards of self are none
where love of others is the rule

So small the pain of his distress
whose earnings don't tell of his worth
An honest man, this life will bless
no matter his fortunes at birth
"Thank You Bernie!"

[Tate Morgan]

Gene I got the bike out yesterday and fired it up. Havent ridden it yet But its ready to go

[Einstein Noodle]

ahahahaha! tis the season you poet you! ;)

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you gene

[Chris Shaw]

Money can't buy those special moments. Time is everything when your children are young. Those who don't invest their time in family when they have them will regret it later on. They may be money rich but they will be poor in spirit. A lovely poem Tate with a strong message. All good wishes.

Chris

[Tate Morgan]

Chritine I so agree if you wait till you are old to make up for time not spent with children you have lost. What makes life special is that it is finite. if it were not we would put off all the best for later when we have time for it. Thank you

[Chryiss]

I agree completely with your author's note besides thoroughly enjoying your poem. A lot could be discussed on the what brings or makes happiness and whether money can be happiness. From this poem, I derived another idea to add to this topic of happiness. Just like how people are most excited in preparation for a holiday only to feel longing on the holiday or after, in the earning of money and thus a sense of preparing for how it is spent, might be the form of happiness which money could bring. Again, there is much more on this topic than I will go into, but that is one thought that popped up after reading.
Thanks for making us think!

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you chryiss The way I see it money can bring some comfort but with it comes fear The value of a man lies not in what he owns but in what he gives to others