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Poem
February 6, 1874
South Branch Intelligencer
Romney, Hampshire County, West Virginia
What is this article about?
A poem critiquing insincere friends who fawn during prosperity but shun and mock during hardship, while praising genuine friends who offer support in adversity.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
When You're Down
When legions of "friends" always bless us,
When golden success lights our way!
How they smile as they softly address us,
So cordial, good humored, and gay!
But ah! when the sun of prosperity
Hath set, then how quickly they frown,
And cry out in tones of severity,
"Kick the man, don't you see he's down!"
What though, when you know not a sorrow,
Your heart was as open as day,
And your "friends," when they wanted to borrow,
You obliged, and ne'er asked them to "pay!"
What though not a soul you e'er slighted,
As you wandered about through the town,
Your "friends" become very near sighted,
And don't seem to see when you're down.
When you're "up" you are loudly exalted,
And traders all sing out your praise:
When you're "down" you have greatly defaulted,
And they "really don't fancy your ways."
Your style was "tip-top," when you'd money,
So sings every sucker and clown
But now 'tis exceedingly funny—
Things are altered because you are down.
Oh, give me the heart that forever
Is free from this world's selfish lust,
And the soul whose high, noble endeavor
Is to raise fallen man from the dust:
And when in adversity's ocean
A victim is likely to drown.
All hail to the friend whose devotion
Will lift up a man when he's "down."
When legions of "friends" always bless us,
When golden success lights our way!
How they smile as they softly address us,
So cordial, good humored, and gay!
But ah! when the sun of prosperity
Hath set, then how quickly they frown,
And cry out in tones of severity,
"Kick the man, don't you see he's down!"
What though, when you know not a sorrow,
Your heart was as open as day,
And your "friends," when they wanted to borrow,
You obliged, and ne'er asked them to "pay!"
What though not a soul you e'er slighted,
As you wandered about through the town,
Your "friends" become very near sighted,
And don't seem to see when you're down.
When you're "up" you are loudly exalted,
And traders all sing out your praise:
When you're "down" you have greatly defaulted,
And they "really don't fancy your ways."
Your style was "tip-top," when you'd money,
So sings every sucker and clown
But now 'tis exceedingly funny—
Things are altered because you are down.
Oh, give me the heart that forever
Is free from this world's selfish lust,
And the soul whose high, noble endeavor
Is to raise fallen man from the dust:
And when in adversity's ocean
A victim is likely to drown.
All hail to the friend whose devotion
Will lift up a man when he's "down."
What sub-type of article is it?
Satire
Ballad
What themes does it cover?
Satire Society
Friendship
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
False Friends
Prosperity
Adversity
True Friendship
Social Critique
Moral Lesson
Poem Details
Title
When You're Down
Form / Style
Rhymed Quatrains
Key Lines
"Kick The Man, Don't You See He's Down!"
And Don't Seem To See When You're Down.
Things Are Altered Because You Are Down.
Will Lift Up A Man When He's "Down."