To what end do we struggle?
To what goal do we strive?
For what gain do we labor?
What causes us to thrive?

Is it merely profit,
That our attention gains?
Or maybe fame and glory
Is why our body strains.

For vain and hollow prizes
Do we our talents waste,
Rushing to exhaustion,
Our ending, in our haste?

More to life there must be,
Beyond this gilt device.
Possessions own us always
And come too high a price.