• Author: Various
• Editor: Cuff, Joseph J.
• Newspaper: The Eastern Echo volume 3
• Page Number:
• Date: 06 Summer 1958
• Tags:
• poetry

I CAN MAKE IT ALONE [BUT WHY?]

To make my way, throughout each day, Alone and friendless, yet proud; Needing no one, beneath the Sun, Alone, in the midst of a crowd; Smothering each doubt, with a selfish shout, “I can make it alone!’’ (But why?)

Should I hide my tears and mask my fears, And be carefree when there is others around? When I’m out of sight, in the still of the night, And my mask of pretense is down; Should I sigh to myself, and lie to myself “I can make it alone!’’ (Tell me why?)

Why? yes, why? must I make it alone? Alone without friends, falsely proud; No man is complete, in egoistic conceit, He is ever a part of that crowd; A cog, I feel, in humanities wheel, Yet . . "He can make it alone" (Not I.)

With false pride on the shelf, less thought of self, I advance with a helping hand; For only in sharing, assisting, and caring, Can I ask others to understand ; I shall know in the end, that I’ve been a friend, Sure, — ‘‘I can make it alone,’’ (But why??) BY JESSE BURCH

IF AND WHEN

If I weep, let my tears be for others If I laugh, let me laugh with thee If I hate, let me hate my shortcomings If I love, let my love flow free. If I lie, let it be a wee white one If I pain, let me not show the strain If I sigh, let my sighs be love sighs If I die, let it not be in vain. When I pray, let my prayers not be selfish When I sing, let my songs be to you When I sin, may my sins be forgiven And when and if these hopes come true I'll feel that my life was not squandered And has proved it’s dedication to you. BY JESSE BURCH

JUDGEMENT

Pass me not in review, Before your judgement stand For I am only one . . . lost in Bewilderment’s land And alone merit not your time or scorn. There are countless more to come, As yet unborn What things I have done to bring me here Cannot be credited to your wiles or schemes So let me walk with bowed head And reap the harvest.of my dreams Your’s cannot be the thorny path, that crooked goes For I, alone, can feel this worlds punishing woes. BY CLARENCE L. HOWARD JR.