The Man in the Mirror Poem

When you get what you want in your struggle for self

And the world makes you king for a day

Then go to the mirror and look at yourself

and see what the man has to say

For it isn't a man's father, mother or wife

whose judgment upon him must pass

The fellow whose verdict counts most in his life

Is the man staring back from the glass

He's the fellow to please; never mind all the rest,

For he's with you up to the end:

And you're past your most dangerous, difficult test

If the man in the glass is your friend

You can fool the whole world down the pathway of years,

And get pats on the back as you pass

But your final reward will be heartache and tears

If you've cheated the man in in the glass!

This poem was found written on the wall of a cell in death row. It was composed by an anonymous prisoner who was later executed