I Laugh at Life: its antics make for me a giddy games,
Where only foolish fellows take themselves with solemn aim.
I laugh at pomp and vanity, at riches, rank and pride;
At social inanity, at swager, swank and side.
At poets, pastry-cooks and kings, at folk sublime and small,
Who fuss about a thousand things that matter not at all;
At those who dream of name and fame, at those who scheme for pelf. . . .
But best of all the laughing game – is laughing at myself.
Some poet chap had labelled man the noblest work of God:
I see myself a charlatan, a humbug and a fraud.
Yea, ‘spite of show and shallow wit, an sentimental drool,
I know myself a hypocrite, a coward and a fool.
And though I kick myself with glee profoundly on the pants,
I’m little worse, it seems to me, than other human ants.
For if you probe your private mind, impervious to shame,
Oh, Gentle Reader, you may find you’re much about the same.
Then let us mock with ancient mirth this comic, cosmic plan;
The stars are laughing at the earth; God’s greatest joke is man.
For laughter is a buckler bright, and scorn a shining spear;
So let us laugh with all our might at folly, fraud and fear.
Yet on our sorry selves be spent our most sardonic glee.
Oh don’t pay life a compliment to take is seriously.
For he who can himself despise, be surgeon to the bone,
May win to worth in others’ eyes, to wisdom in his own.
(Robert William Service)
More Poetry from Robert William Service:
Robert William Service Poems based on Topics: Man, God, Life, Mind, Fear, Name, Money & Wealth, Fool, Kings & Queens, Fame, Laughter- Fighting Mac (Robert William Service Poems)
- If You Had The Choice Of Two Women To Wed (Robert William Service Poems)
- (The sunshine seeks my little room) (Robert William Service Poems)
- Two Men (J. L. And R. B.) (Robert William Service Poems)
- Old Trouper (Robert William Service Poems)
- Infirmities (Robert William Service Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Man Poems, God Poems, Life Poems, Mind Poems, Name Poems, Kings & Queens Poems, Fear Poems, Money & Wealth Poems, Literature Poems, Pride Poems, Praise PoemsBased on Keywords: antics, buckler, probe, profoundly, seriously, impervious, labelled, sardonic, swank, humbug, drool