He entered politics; in highest hope
Longed to redress the pangs of human woe;
Seeing the older men, who could not cope,
He saw a dearth and would not have it so.

But now, review the hard lines round his eyes,
The wreckage where his highest hopes have died;
Because all opposition was unwise,
Roughshod on his ideals he let them ride.

So now he’s joined the league of hard-faced men,
And bitter are the cheers he  thought so sweet;
Ruling, he’ll learn to bite the hardest when
He’s conscience-pricked by people at his feet.

Feel sorry for him? No; it wasn’t long
Before he learnt that doing right was wrong.