The Forgotten Man

(An adaptation from William Graham Sumner)

The simple, honest laborer who earns

His living by productive work. We pass

Him by because he’s independent, self-

Supporting, asks no favors, won’t appeal

To the emotions, never would excite

The sentiments. He only wants to make

A contract and fulfill it, with respect

On both sides, favor shown on neither side.

He has to make his growing living from

The country’s capital that, as it grows

The better living he can make. Each part

Of capital that’s wasted on the vicious,

The idle, and the shiftless is the gold

That’s taken from the capital that should

Have been available as just reward

For him, the independent and productive

Laborer. We ignore, do not remember

Him just because he makes no clamor; is

He not the man who ought to be remembered?