Demanding all, deserving nothing

Cui Bono

BY THOMAS CARLYLE

What is Hope? A smiling rainbow 

      Children follow through the wet; 

’Tis not here, still yonder, yonder: 

      Never urchin found it yet. 

What is Life? A thawing iceboard 

      On a sea with sunny shore;— 

Gay we sail; it melts beneath us; 

      We are sunk, and seen no more. 

What is Man? A foolish baby, 

      Vainly strives, and fights, and frets; 

Demanding all, deserving nothing;— 

      One small grave is what he gets.