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Poem
January 8, 1870
Weekly Trinity Journal
Weaverville, Trinity County, California
What is this article about?
A moral poem reflecting on how the world would improve if people prioritized love, humility, and justice over wealth, fame, pride, and bigotry, structured in stanzas with a recurring refrain.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
Weekly Trinity Journal.
The World Would be Better For It.
If men cared less for wealth and fame,
And less for battle fields of glory:
If writ in human hearts a name
Seemed better than a song and story:
If men, instead of nursing pride
Would learn to hate it and abhor it:
If more relied on Love to guide,
The world would be better for it.
If men dealt less in stocks and lands,
And more in bonds and deeds fraternal:
If Love's work had more willing hands
To link this world to the supernal:
If men stored up Love's oil and wine,
And on bruised human hearts would pour it:
If "yours" and "mine" would once combine,
The world would be the better for it.
If more would act the play of Life
And fewer spoil it in rehearsal:
If Bigotry would sheath its knife,
Till Good became more universal:
If custom, gray with ages grown,
Had fewer blind men to adore it:
If talent shone for Truth alone
The world would be the better for it.
If men were wise in little things-
Affecting less in all their dealings:
If hearts had fewer rusted strings
To isolate their kindly feelings:
If men, when Wrong beats down the Right,
Would strike together and restore it:
If right made might in every fight,
The world would be the better for it.
The World Would be Better For It.
If men cared less for wealth and fame,
And less for battle fields of glory:
If writ in human hearts a name
Seemed better than a song and story:
If men, instead of nursing pride
Would learn to hate it and abhor it:
If more relied on Love to guide,
The world would be better for it.
If men dealt less in stocks and lands,
And more in bonds and deeds fraternal:
If Love's work had more willing hands
To link this world to the supernal:
If men stored up Love's oil and wine,
And on bruised human hearts would pour it:
If "yours" and "mine" would once combine,
The world would be the better for it.
If more would act the play of Life
And fewer spoil it in rehearsal:
If Bigotry would sheath its knife,
Till Good became more universal:
If custom, gray with ages grown,
Had fewer blind men to adore it:
If talent shone for Truth alone
The world would be the better for it.
If men were wise in little things-
Affecting less in all their dealings:
If hearts had fewer rusted strings
To isolate their kindly feelings:
If men, when Wrong beats down the Right,
Would strike together and restore it:
If right made might in every fight,
The world would be the better for it.
What sub-type of article is it?
Song
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Satire Society
What keywords are associated?
World Improvement
Love Guidance
Pride Abhor
Moral Virtue
Bigotry Critique
Justice Fight
Fraternal Bonds
Poem Details
Title
The World Would Be Better For It.
Form / Style
Rhymed Quatrains With Refrain
Key Lines
If Men Cared Less For Wealth And Fame, / And Less For Battle Fields Of Glory:
If More Relied On Love To Guide, / The World Would Be Better For It.
If Men Dealt Less In Stocks And Lands, / And More In Bonds And Deeds Fraternal:
If Bigotry Would Sheath Its Knife, / Till Good Became More Universal:
If Right Made Might In Every Fight, / The World Would Be The Better For It.