I’D have you use a wise philosophy,
In this, as in all matters, whereupon
Judgment may freely act; truth ever lies
Between extremes; avoid the spendthrift’s folly
As you’d avoid the road of utter ruin;
For wealth, or at the least, fair competence,
Is honor, comfort, hope, and self-respect;
All, in a word, that makes our human life
Endurable, if not happy: scorn the cant
Of sentimental Dives, wrapped in purple,
Who over jewelled wine-cups and rich fare,
Affects to flout his gold, and prattles loosely
Of sweet content that’s found in poverty:
As for the miser, he’s a madman simply,
One who the means of all enjoyment holds,
Yet never dares enjoy: no, no, Anselmo,
Use with a prudent, but still liberal hand
That store the gods have given you; thus, my friend,
‘Twixt the Charybdis of a churlish meanness,
And the swift Scylla of improvident waste,
You’ll steer your bark o’er smooth, innocuous seas,
And reach at last a peaceful anchorage.
(Paul Hamilton Hayne)
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Based on Topics: God Poems, Fairness Poems, Friendship Poems, Hope Poems, Happiness Poems, Gold Poems, Money & Wealth Poems, Wisdom & Knowledge Poems, Truth Poems, Honor Poems, Judgment PoemsBased on Keywords: charybdis, scylla, innocuous, wine-cups, improvident, prattles, anselmo, endurable