Classic Poem

Two buckets in an ancient well
got talking once together,
And after sundry wise remarks, —
no doubt about the weather, —
" Look here, " quoth one, " this life we lead
I don't exactly like;
Upon my word, I'm half inclined
to venture on a strike;
For, do you mind? however full
we both come up the well,
We go down empty, — always shall,
for aught that I can tell. "

" That's true, " the other said; " but then,
the way it looks to me, —
However empty we go down,
we come up full, you see. "
Wise little bucket! If we each
would look at life that way,
Would dwarf its ills and magnify
its blessings, day by day,
The world would be a happier place,
since we should all decide
Only the buckets full to count,
and let the empty slide.