A Fence
or an Ambulance
Joseph Malins
(1895)
- a poem about prevention
-
'Twas a dangerous
cliff, as they freely confessed,
Though to walk near
its crest was so pleasant;
But over its terrible
edge there had slipped
A duke and full
many a peasant.
So the people
said something would have to be done,
But their projects
did not at all tally;
Some said, "Put
a fence 'round the edge of the cliff,"
Some, "An ambulance
down in the valley."
But the cry for
the ambulance carried the day,
For it spread through
the neighboring city;
A fence may be useful
or not, it is true,
But each heart became
full of pity
For those who slipped
over the dangerous cliff;
And the dwellers
in highway and alley
Gave pounds and
gave pence, not to put up a fence,
But an ambulance
down in the valley.
"For the cliff
is all right, if your careful," they said,
"And, if folks
even slip and are dropping,
It isn't the slipping
that hurts them so much
As the shock down
below when they're stopping."
So day after day,
as these mishaps occurred,
Quick forth would
those rescuers sally
To pick up the victims
who fell off the cliff,
With their ambulance
down in the valley.
Then an old sage
remarked: "It's a marvel to me
That people give
far more attention
To repairing results
than to stopping the cause,
When they'd much
better aim at prevention.
Let us stop at its
source all this mischief," cried he,
"Come, neighbors
and friends, let us rally;
If the cliff we
will fence, we might almost dispense
With the ambulance
down in the valley."
"Oh he's a
fanatic," the others rejoined,
"Dispense with
the ambulance? Never!
He'd dispense with
all charities, too, if he could;
No! No! We'll support
them forever.
Aren't we picking
up folks just as fast as they fall?
And shall this man
dictate to us? Shall he?
Why should people
of sense stop to put up a fence,
While the ambulance
works in the valley?"
But the sensible
few, who are practical too,
Will not bear with
such nonsense much longer;
They believe that
prevention is better than cure,
And their party
will soon be the stronger.
Encourage them then,
with your purse, voice, and pen,
And while other
philanthropists dally,
They will scorn
all pretense, and put up a stout fence
On the cliff that
hangs over the valley.
Better guide well
the young than reclaim them when old,
For the voice of
true wisdom is calling.
"To rescue
the fallen is good, but 'tis best
To prevent other
people from falling."
Better close up
the source of temptation and crime
Than deliver from
dungeon or galley;
Better put a strong
fence 'round the top of the cliff
Than an ambulance
down in the valley.
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