Press "Enter" to skip to content

The Prime Need

From the Rock Island Argus, July 31, 1913. By Henry Howland.

She tried this thing and then tried that
    To keep from growing frightful;
She thought when she was like a slat
    That plumpness was delightful;
But, having lost her slenderness,
    She starved herself and banted;
Each added pound brought new distress,
    And dismally she panted.

She tried to fight the wrinkles back
    By using many lotions;
She sighed, “Alas!” and sobbed, “Alack!”
    And harbored sad emotions;
Her eyes, once beautiful, no more
    Were filled with fine expression;
She lost the smile that years before
    Had been her choice possession.

She tried in many, many ways
    To keep from growing frightful;
Of all things that she valued, praise
    Was always most delightful;
She mourned the hardness of her lot,
    Her eyes were often tearful—
And all because she’d just forgot
    The need of keeping cheerful.

Comments are closed.

Mission News Theme by Compete Themes.