Classic Poem

VERSE

When you look life in the face
There's too much time, there's too much space.
There's too much future, too much past.
Man is so little, and the world so vast;
You may fancy yourself as an immortal creature,
But you're just a cartoon between a double feature.

REFRAIN

You go round about
And round about
And round about you go.
For an olden spell is wound about the game.
Then it's ring around
And swing around
Your partners as you go,
But the more they change, the more they are the same.
When the dancing is done,
You are back where you started;
1. When the music begins, it plays the same old tune.
Then it's round about
And round about
And round about again
As you pray again
Each day again to soar;
On your way again,
It's round about once more.

INTERLUDE

You wake each morning alive and gay.
You think today is another day.
Your future seems a primrose path.
You hum to your pillow and you sing in your bath.
Your stockings hug you along the seam.
Your girdle fits like a sophomore's dream.
You roam the world like a romantic rover.
You find today is just yesterday warmed over.
You meet a man and you're on the crest.
You think he is diff'rent from all the rest.
You start to dream of a cozy flat
With milk for the kids and cream for the cat,
And that's the moment not to be astounded
To find that you've been merry-go-rounded.

REPEAT REFRAIN

2. Each tomorrow the sun shines through your vacant heart.
Then it's round about
And round about
And round about again
As you grope again
And hope again to soar;
It's no soap again,
It's round about once more.