Only if I knew!

I wished to be rich one day, 

To be content and gay! 

I thought I'd buy my dreams, 

Once rich, I'd relish life's gifts. 

Hence, I strived relentlessly on;

Each day, each hour, bygone - 

All my time did I invest, 

In the aspirations great.

I wished to be rich one day 

To be content and gay! 

My family understood, 

That for them I strived.

I'd buy their health and happiness,

So they mustn't ask me for my time. 

I'd spend my life with them,

After I make their future safe. 

I wished to be rich one day,

To be content and gay! 

Well, I surely am rich today,

I have all the riches, so to say;

I look around to catch up with time,

To live once again the lost times. 

Well, I surely am rich today,

With all the comfort, so to say;

The walls of my mansion are hollow,

No voice within that ever echo. 

There is a silence that pervades now,

My wife has a life of her own now.

We have no fond memories, 

To recollect together. 

My friends have moved on too, 

Time has removed their traces too.

My angel child has flown to her world, 

For, she too wants to become rich now. 

I think of my small house years ago, 

Which echoed with laughter long ago, 

The smile of my angel lit all nooks, 

My wife received me with loving looks. 

My friends visited me all the time, 

Waited to share joy all the while. 

I wish I hadn't missed to see, 

The riches that lay around me;

I wish I could see the wealth, 

In the love of my dear ones. 

Work over life, success over joy, 

After all, it is such a foolish choice!