The World Would be the Better for it

If men cared less for wealth and fame,
And less for battlefields and glory;
If writ in human hearts, a name
Seemed better than in song or 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 the better for it.

If men dealt less in stocks and lands,
And more in bonds and deeds fraternal;
If loves work had more willing hands,
To link this world with 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, grey with ages grown,
Had fewer blind men to adore it;
If talent shone
In 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 kindred feelings;
If men, when wrong beats down the right,
Would strike together to restore it;
If right made might
In every fight-
The world would be the better for it.

M.H. Cobb