I look into the water
And what do I see?
A face grinning back,
Laughing hilariously.

I say to the face,
“Son, don’t you know
That you should not laugh
At a world so full of woe?”

Then my mirrored friend says,
With his eyes full of glee,
“I don’t worry about the world
I’m thinking of me”.

“The world is not my problem,
I’ve paid my fare.
When its time to get off
Who will really care?”

“Men have made their own problems,
Let them wallow in woe,
For myself, I shall laugh,
Let them reap what they sow!”

“How can you be so callous?”
I ask of this shade.
And he answers with a laugh,
“Life is but a masquerade!”

“Man truly enjoys
His role of despair.
He would be so sad
If he had no sorrows to bear.”

“So, if you are so unhappy,
Come in here with me
And we’ll spend the rest of eternity,
Laughing hilariously!”