A Puzzlement

When I was a boy

World was better spot

What was so was so

What was not was not

Now I am a man

World have changed a lot

Some things nearly so

Others nearly not

There are times I almost think

I am not sure of what I absolutely know

Very often find confusion

In conclusion I concluded long ago

In my head are many facts t

Hat as a student I have studied to procure

In my head are many facts

Of which I wish I was more certain I was sure

Is a puzzlement

What to tell growing son

What for instance shall I say to him of women

Shall I educate him on the ancient lines

Shall I tell the boy as far as he is able

To respect his wives and love his concubines

Shall I tell him everyone is like the other

And the better of the two is really neither

If I tell him this I think he won't believe it

And I nearly think I don't but believe either

When my father was a king

He was a king who knew exactly what he knew

And his brain was not a thing

Forever swinging to and fro and fro and to

Shall I then be like my father

And be willfully unmovable and strong

Or is it better to be right

Or am I right when I believe I may be wrong

Shall I join with other nations in alliance

If allies are weak am I not best alone

If allies are strong with power to protect me

Might they not protect me out of all I own

Is a danger to be trusting one another

One will seldom want to do what other wishes

But unless someday somebody trust somebody

There'll be nothing left on earth excepting fishes

There are times I almost think

Nobody sure of what he absolutely know

Everybody find confusion

In conclusion he concluded long ago

And it puzzle me to learn

That tho' a man may be in doubt of what he know

Very quickly he will fight

He'll fight to prove that what he does not know is so

Oh sometimes I think that people going mad

Ah sometimes I think that people not so bad

But not matter what I think I must go on living life

As leader of my kingdom I must go forth

Be father to my children and husband to each wife

Etcetera etcetera and so forth

If my Lord in Heaven Buddha show the way

Everyday I try to live another day

If my Lord in Heaven Buddha show the way

Everyday I do my best for one more day

But is a puzzlement