He is but a man

He is but a man
That the world doth seem to adore
Yet he is nothing more

Yes in life he made for himself a name
And did oft but dress as a dame
And dance to all fame

Ah, but a famous name
And nothing more
So will you still adore

Is he a god
That you should pay respect
Hardly (though it seems rather odd)

When one is dead
Their past sins are oft forgot
And we praise what one is not
As if they were a god

We all are but man
But dust and death
To become

And so we are dumb
To think it more than so
We have but seventy or eighty

And then tis done
Do not forget
We all are but human after all

So as we may praise
The "glories" of man
May we not forget
That he too is mortal

And holds no claim
Beyond the title of fame
When he is gone

He will to heaven or hell
So well as anyone
And no mark of his deeds
Will dismiss him so

Only but the grace of God
Can save him
His sin

-Joshua Lee Foist