ambition

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Three men met at a tavern table.  One was a weaver, another a carpenter and the third a ploughman. 

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Said the weaver, " I sold a fine linen shroud today for two pieces of gold.  Let us have all the wine we want."

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"And I," said the carpenter, "I sold my best coffin.  We will have a great roast with the wine."

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"I only dug a grave," said the ploughman, "but my patron paid me double.   Let us have honey cakes too."

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And all that evening the tavern was busy,  for they called often for wine and meat and cakes.  And they were merry.

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And the host rubbed his hands and smiled at his wife; for his guests were spending freely.

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When they left the moon was high, and they walked along the road singing and shouting together.

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The host and his wife stood in the tavern door and looked after them.

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"Ah!" said the wife, "these gentlemen!  So freehanded and so gay!  If only they could bring us such luck every day!  Then our son need not be a tavern-keeper and work so hard.  We could educate him, and he could become a priest."

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~ Kahlil Gibran

from Poems, Parables, and Drawings

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