King for a Day

About 30 years ago I ran across a poem called The Man in the Glass* and it has been on my office wall ever since. It says in part:

When you get what you want in
your struggles for self and the
world makes you king for a day,

Just go to a mirror and look at
yourself, and see what that man
has to say.

The rest of the poem continues to suggest that all of us should pause to take stock of ourselves from time to time, just to be sure we are proud of who we are.

It makes you wonder if some of our neighbors ever look in a mirror with homes in our subdivisions that stick out like sore thumbs because of their deplorable condition. Do these home owners ever consider what their neglect is doing to their neighbors’ property values and even to their own property values?

Sure, statistics show that real estate sales in the Baton Rouge area are much stronger than in most parts of the country right now. But don’t assume that because you have taken care of your property and made improvements you will have no trouble selling your home for a good price when the time comes.

Take a look around. Would you buy a home in your neighborhood?

Good neighbors and top-quality neighborhoods play an important role in the price of homes and the time it takes to sell. Everyone wants to live in a neighborhood where A-1 zoning laws are not only in place, but enforced.

For example, what if a neighbor decides to build a boat storage facility or motor home storage shed on his property? Has he followed the proper procedure? Did he apply for and receive a building permit from the City-Parish? What about his adherence to A-1 zoning laws such as set-back lines from the street? And what about the deed restrictions filed with the city by the developer of your subdivision? Is your neighbor’s project in line with those? Because those are the things that made your home so appealing when you bought.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with somebody who wants to live in a rural mobile home surrounded by broken-down automobiles, boats and other assorted junk, but it does not make sense to do that in a subdivision where neighbors live within a few feet of each other. There may be nothing illegal about allowing the rain gutters to fall off your house, or letting small trees, weeds and vines grow around your home until they cover the walkways, but that still does not make it right. It’s a disgrace is what it is.

You may be like Jack Horner and chisel a plumb
And think you’re a wonderful guy.

But the man in the glass says you’re only a bum
If you can’t look him straight in the eye.

The Man in the Glass

When you get what you want in your struggle for pelf,

And the world makes you King for a day,

Then go to the mirror and look at yourself,

And see what that guy has to say.

For it isn't your Father, or Mother, or Wife,

Who judgement upon you must pass.

The feller whose verdict counts most in your life

Is the guy staring back from the glass.

He's the feller to please, never mind all the rest,

For he's with you clear up to the end,

And you've passed your most dangerous, difficult test

If the guy in the glass is your friend.

You may be like Jack Horner and "chisel" a plum,

And think you're a wonderful guy,

But the man in the glass says you're only a bum

If you can't look him straight in the eye.

You can fool the whole world down the pathway of years,

And get pats on the back as you pass,

But your final reward will be heartaches and tears

If you've cheated the guy in the glass.

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