If you see a tall fellow ahead of the crowd,
A leader of the group, marching fearless and proud,
And you know of a tale whose mere telling aloud
Would cause his proud head in anguish be bowed,
It’s a pretty good plan to forget it.
If you know of a skeleton hidden away in a closet,
Guarded and kept from the day in the dark,
Whose showing, whose sudden display,
Would cause grief and sorrow and life-long dismay,
It’s a pretty good plan to forget it.
If you know of a spot in the life of a friend,
We all have spots concealed, world without end,
Whose touching his heartstring would hurt or rend,
‘til the shame of it showing no grieving could mend,
I think it’s a pretty good plan to forget it.
If you know of a thing that will darken joy
Of a man, or a woman, or a girl, or a boy,
That will wipe out a smile, or the least way annoy
A fellow or cause any gladness to cloy,
It’s a pretty good plan to forget it.
-Mortimer Lewis
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