I Don’t Care

“I don’t care,” we hear it oft

And oft, the words are seeming fair;

But many a heartache lies beneath

A careless “I don’t care!”

In every age, from every tongue,

The vain assertions fell;

But oh, trust not the cheating words,

For never truth they tell!

Hearts may grow sick with hope deferred,

Be crushed with black despair,

But lips, too proud to own defeat,

Will whisper, “I don’t care!”

A thoughtless friend flings out in jest—

As jesters always do—

A deadly shaft you wince beneath,

You know the story’s true;

But while the dart has pierced your heart,

And poisoned, rankles there,

You look amused, and answer with

A smiling, “I don’t care!”

When Fortune’s favors are withdrawn,

And friends like shadows fled,

When all your fondest dreams are gone,

Your dearest hopes are dead,

You curse the fickle goddess, then,

Who wrought you such despair,

Yet hide chagrin beneath a frown,

And mutter, “I don’t care!”

The veteran, battle-scarred, who fills

A nation’s honored place,

Feels keener than his saber’s point,

Unmerited disgrace.

With indignation all aflame

He meets some rival’s stare;

But for all answer gives the worlds

A freezing “I don’t care!”

A woman’s heart is trifled with,

Her hopes are ground to dust,

Her proud soul humbled with neglect,

Betrayed her sacred trust,

Yet, while to desperation stung,

With death and ruin there,

She’ll crush the tears and cheat you with

A laughing “I don’t care?”

“I don’t care!” ’tis but a breath,

The words are seeming fair,

But many a heartache lies beneath

A careless “I don’t care!”

-- Madge Morris Wagner