Sometimes I pause and sadly think
—Of the things that might have been,
Of the golden chances I let slip by,
—And which never returned again.

Think of the joys that might have been mine;
—The prizes I almost won,
The goals I missed by a mere hair's breadth;
—And the things I might have done.

It fills me with gloom when I ponder thus,
—Till I look on the other side,
How I might have been completely engulfed
—By misfortune's surging tide.

The unknown dangers lurking about,
—Which I passed safely through
The evils and sorrows that I've been spared
—Pass plainly now in review.

So when I am downcast and feeling sad,
—I repeat over and over again,
Things are far from being as bad
—As they easily might have been.

Sometimes I pause and sadly think
—Of the things that might have been,
Of the golden chances I let slip by,
—And which never returned again.

Think of the joys that might have been mine;
—The prizes I almost won,
The goals I missed by a mere hair's breadth;
—And the things I might have done.

It fills me with gloom when I ponder thus,
—Till I look on the other side,
How I might have been completely engulfed
—By misfortune's surging tide.

The unknown dangers lurking about,
—Which I passed safely through
The evils and sorrows that I've been spared
—Pass plainly now in review.

So when I am downcast and feeling sad,
—I repeat over and over again,
Things are far from being as bad
—As they easily might have been.