Hope went by and Peace went by
And would not enter in;
Youth went by and Health wnt by
And Love that is their kin.
Those within the house shed tears
On their bitter bread;
Some were old and some were mad,
And some were sick a-bed.
Gray Death saw the wretched house
And even he passed by--
"They have never lived," he said,
"They can wait to die."
Sara Teasdale
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-poor-house/
