The Failures of an Idle Man

There stands a man beside the road,

With dreams too heavy for his load;

He watches others chase the sun,

While he remains where days begun.

He speaks of greatness every day,

Yet lets his opportunities decay.

His hands are strong, his mind is bright,

But fear and comfort win the fight.

He waits for fortune at his door,

While yesterday knocks nevermore.

He blames the world, he blames his fate,

Not knowing time will never wait.

The morning comes, the evening falls,

Another day escapes his calls.

His plans remain upon the shelf,

Because he will not challenge self.

He sees the farmer reap his grain,

But never walks beneath the rain.

He sees the builder raise the wall,

But never lifts a brick at all.

The idle man may dream of gold,

But dreams alone will not unfold.

A seed can never grow to tree

Until it meets the soil and sees

The patient labour of the hand,

The care that makes it firmly stand.

His greatest failure is not defeat;

It is refusing to move his feet.

For failure can teach the brave,

And every fall can make one strong and save

A heart from making the same mistake

If there is courage to rise and wake.

The clock does not negotiate,

Nor does tomorrow pause and wait.

Each wasted hour becomes a scar,

A silent distance from the star

That once appeared within his sight,

A dream that slowly loses light.

But hope still whispers, “Rise today.

Your past need not decide your way.”

Let purpose awaken sleeping hands;

Let effort turn dreams into plans.

For life rewards the one who tries,

Who works beneath uncertain skies.

Not every labour brings success,

But honest effort defeats idleness.

So let the idle man arise,

And place his courage in the skies.

Let him begin with what he has,

And take one step, then another pass.

For destiny is not merely found;

It is built upon determined ground.

And though yesterday may mark his fall,

A purposeful heart can rebuild it all.