A Man iamb

When first I sought to be the man I am

I gave no thought to what I ought to be

I thought of being more than I was then

And gave no thought to virtuosity

I was at that time something of a lamb

A boy who'd never hurt or harm a soul

And could I go and do it all again

I'd set myself a more substantial goal

But I'm more skilled a man than some men are

I've learned to play the strings of life quite well

Well enough I think to take me far

Well and far enough to keep from Hell

If I had known the stakes; that Hell-fire loomed

I'd have honed and nurtured every trait

If I had known the dangers of the tomb

I'd not have left a thing to chance or fate