iInspire

Below is a poem that I thought I should share with you. This is a poem which is also known as ‘The Man in the Mirror’ and ‘The Man in the Glass’. The original author of this poem is Dale Wimbrow. This poem which was posted below was originally believed to be written by an anonymous prisoner in USA. But, it is now known that the author of this poem is Dale Wimbrow. The son of this author has a personal website where you can find more information about him.

This was the original poem as written by the author:

The Guy in the Glass

by Dale Wimbrow, (c) 1934

When you get what you want in your struggle for pelf,

And the world makes you King for a day,

Then go to the mirror and look at yourself,

And see what that guy has to say.

For it isn't your Father, or Mother, or Wife,

Whose judgement upon you must pass.

The feller whose verdict counts most in your life

Is the guy staring back from the glass.

He's the feller to please, never mind all the rest,

For he's with you clear up to the end,

And you've passed your most dangerous, difficult test

If the guy in the glass is your friend.

You may be like Jack Horner and "chisel" a plum,

And think you're a wonderful guy,

But the man in the glass says you're only a bum

If you can't look him straight in the eye.

You can fool the whole world down the pathway of years,

And get pats on the back as you pass,

But your final reward will be heartaches and tears

If you've cheated the guy in the glass.

Note: The word ‘pelf’ is an informal word for money or wealth.