I bought a young and lovely bride,
Paying her father gold;
Lamblike she rested by my side,
As cold as ice is cold.
No love in her could I awake,
Even for pity’s sake.
I bought rich books I could not read,
And pictures proud and rare;
Reproachfully they seemed to plead
And hunger for my care;
But to their beauty I was blind,
Even as is a hind.
The bearded merchants heard my cry:
‘I’ll give all I posses
If only, only I can buy
A little happiness.’
Alas! I sought without avail:
They had not that for sale.
I gave my riches to the poor
And dared the desert lone;
Now of God’s heaven I am sure
Though I am rag and bone . . .
Aye, richer than the Aga Khan,
At last–a happy man.
(Robert William Service)
More Poetry from Robert William Service:
Robert William Service Poems based on Topics: Man, God, Cry, Happiness, Gold, Money & Wealth, Youth- 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)
- Grand-Pa's Whim (Robert William Service Poems)
- The Song Of The Pacifist (Robert William Service Poems)
- The Gramaphone At Fond-Du-Lac (Robert William Service Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Man Poems, God Poems, Youth Poems, Cry Poems, Happiness Poems, Gold Poems, Money & Wealth PoemsBased on Keywords: khan, reproachfully, posses, last-a, aga, lamblike
- The Tragedy of White Injustice (Marcus Mosiah Garvey Poems)
- The Progres Of The Soule (John Donne Poems)
- Resignation Pt 1 (Edward Young Poems)
- The Minstrel; Or, The Progress Of Genius : Book I. (James Beattie Poems)
- A Poem On The African Slave Trade. Addressed To Her Own Sex. Part II (Mary Birkett Card Poems)