The Man in the Glass

When you get what you want in your struggle for self
And the world makes you king for a day
Just go to the mirror and look at yourself
And see what that man has to say.

For it isn’t your father, or mother, or wife
Whose judgment upon you must pass
The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the one staring back from the glass.

Some people may call you a straight shooting chum
And call you a wonderful guy
But the man in the glass says you’re only a bum
If you can’t look him straight in the eyes

He’s the fellow to please – never mind all the rest
For he’s with you, clear to the end
And you’ve passed your most difficult, dangerous test
If the man in the glass is your friend.

You may fool (face?) the whole world down the pathway of years
And get pats on the back as you pass
But your final reward will be heartache and tears
If you’ve cheated the man in the glass.

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Dit bericht is geschreven door Peter Dale Wimbrow Senior en voor het eerst gepubliceerd in 1934 en ook vandaag nog graag gelezen. Ik bedank een vriend voor de tip.

Ik krijg online diverse varianten getoond en kan niet achterhalen welke werkelijk de juiste is. De strekking daar en tegen is wel duidelijk.