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

[Jaweena...Eileen Quinta..]

Nizhoni - Beautiful! Love the thoughts...and appreciate the beauty of this write. I love the honesty in your observation, and the vocalization of it. That is profound and powerful. Well done my friend.

[David Lewis Paget]

Love your thoughts on these very worldly themes, Tate. Unfortunately you live in a country that has made money its God, and that concept has bled out of America to taint the rest of the world. The administration's impotence in its inability to raise the taxes of the wealthy over there is a telling point. Since 2008 and the GFC, there has been no greater reason for a reform of the capitalist system, and a revolution to overturn those mega-rich who hold the reins of power, and treat the rest of us as pawns in their game.

[Klyn]

I grew up poor and always swore that I would not be dependent on anyone for my fortune and success. It's taken me 40 years to realize that I can't have it all. No, I don't have to have the biggest house, the nicest furniture, designer clothes and shoes to make me happy. The more "stuff" I accumulated the more unhappy I became. I had a car accident 16 months ago and it has certainly humbled me....the bills are accumulating and my money dwindling. I never thought I'd move to an apartment in my 40's but realize...I'm happier. It's down to the basics now and I now..I have the freedom to purchase flying lessons, ATV adventures, live life!! No...money doesn't make you happy or successful...my children and family do. Thank you, Tate! Beautiful.

[Nayan]

I cannot but salute this wonderful piece and the magnitude of your thoughts!

Loved the way you interleaved the similar lines, but differentiated by actions and behaviors of the poor and the rich.

"Inheriting, it seems to me
what no good man would wish to be
...
Inheriting, it seems to me
what all good men would wish to be"

[Kenneth The Poet]

Awesome piece, Tate.

[?]

Very true Tate, so really in my book the poor man is the richer man

[Neva Flores Smith - Cha..]

There is always a lesson or two to be learned from your beautiful poetry Tate. Thank you for this one........((hugs))

[G. Marie"floating on an..]

I just read this again and I think I really needed to hear this again and again as I have been fretting and worrying about money lately..... I forgot my problems when I saw my beautiful grandchildren today...... they made me happy.......my children made me happy...... money never made me happy...... though lack of it sometimes can make one unhappy.....

[EricGodsil]

I think this was a really good write. It had meaning which could be reflected on by people of any stature. As, in this poem, the poor son does seem to gain advantageous characteristics of live. That is just my opinion as some may feel material wealth is the advantage in a situation. The rhyme scheme and meter were on point. It was a smooth read with every stanza having an ability to keep the reader captured. I think that is a tremendous quality to have in any piece. I wish there could be more I could say about this but it would just be repeating myself with a variance in words. After all there is only so many ways to say what an excellent read it was for me.