Fortunate Ones Poem by Ernest Hilbert

You will inherit large sums of money
(But someone dear to you will have to die first) .
You will travel far and see the wide world
(And load yourself with debt; these things aren't free) .
You can relax now. You've been through the worst
(But it consumed your youth, and now you're old) .
You will enjoy many warm times with friends
(But they will sneak your booze and filch your smokes) .
Your fortune is in some other cookie
(Hard to argue the message that one sends) .
You are very important to your folks
(They will never let your life be easy) .
A fortune is only worth what it covers
(Believe what you like, discard the others) .