You Tell on Yourself

Memories of the Phonograph

 

Author Unknown 2012

Editor's Note: Found while surfing the internet in July 2012, this poem is from a website called "Bulletin Fodder" Attributed to writings suitable for and/or actually found in church bulletins this poem was cited as falling in line with Matthew 7:20 “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them."

 

You tell on yourself by the friends you seek,

By the very manner in which you speak,

By the way you employ your leisure time,

By the use you make of dollar and dime.

You tell what you are by the things you wear,

By the spirit in which you burdens bear,

By the kind of things at which you laugh,

By the records you play on the phonograph.

You tell what you are by the way you walk,

By the things of which you delight to talk,

By the manner in which you bear defeat,

By so simple a thing as how you eat.

By the books you choose from the well-filled shelf:

In these ways and more, you tell on yourself.

— Author Unknown






Nat King Cole LP "Tell Me All About Yourself" 1960 Capital Records W1331