Not “How did he die”? But “How did he live?”
Not “What did he gain?” But “What did he give?”
Not “What was his station?” But “Had he a heart?”
And “How did he play his God-given part?”
Not “What was his shrine? Nor “What was his creed?”
But “Had he befriended those really in need?”
Not “What did the piece in the newspaper say?”
But “How many were sorry when he passed away?”
Was he ever ready with a word or good cheer,
To bring back a smile, to banish a tear?
These are the units to measure the worth
Of a man as a man, regardless of birth.

NOT WHAT WAS HIS STATION
bUT HAD HE A HEART
AND HOW DID HE PLAY
HIS GOD GIVEN PART
WAS HE EVER READY
WITH A WORD OF GOOD CHEER
TO BRING BACK A SMILE
TO BANISH A TEAR

NOT WHAT WAS HIS CHURCH
NOR WHAT WAS HIS CREED
BUT HAD HE BEFRIENDED
THOSE REALLY IN NEED
NOT WHAT DID THE SKETCH
IN THE NEWSPAPERS SAY
BUT HOW MANY WERE SORRY
WHEN HE PASSED AWAY

-AUTHOR UNKNOWN-

I HAVE CARRIED THIS POEM WITH ME SINCE I WAS 19 YEARS OLD
ALLY IN NEED
NOT WHAT DID THE SKETCH
IN THE NEWSPAPERS SAY
BUT HOW MANY WERE SORRY
WHEN HE PASSED AWAY

-AUTHOR UNKNOWN-

I HAVE CARRIED THIS POEM WITH ME SINCE I WAS 19 YEARS OLD