The Pride That Comes After

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It knows it all, it knows it all,
  The world of groans and laughter,
It sneers of pride before a fall,
  But the bitter pride comes after:
So leave me and I’ll seek you not,
  So seek me and you’ll find me—
But till I know your hand-grip’s true
  I’ll stand with hands behind me.

It knows it all, it knows it all,
  The world of lies and sorrow—
It prates of pride before a fall,
  And of the humble morrow;
But shame and blame are but a name,
  Oh, heart that’s hurt past curing!
We’ll drink to-night the sinner’s pride,
  The pride that’s most enduring.

They know it all, they know it all,
  The curs that pass the sentence.
They preach of pride before a fall
  And bitter black repentance:
So leave me when my star is set,
  I’ll glory that you leave me,
While one has pride to love me yet
  There’s nought on earth shall grieve me.

© Henry Lawson