A grade school teacher told him once
That fools believe in dreams.
He laid aside his childhood plans
For more pragmatic schemes.

His bitter father pointed out
To trust is a mistake.
He learned to read men carefully
And judge them all as fake.

Once a wise man gravely shared
That life is just a battle.
All talk of peace he–wisely–then
Dismissed as foolish prattle.

Along the way a friend he knew
Explained that God is dead.
So love and hope were exorcised
And reason took their stead.

He stands alone now, looking back,
And, secretly, he grieves
That the things that someone told him once
Are the things that he believes.