Four Men

It chanced upon a winter’s night,
Safe sheltered from the weather,
The board was spread for only one,
yet four men dined together.
There sat the man I meant to be
In glory spurred and booted.
And close beside him to the right
The Man I am reputed.
The Man I thought myself to be
His seat was occupying,
Hard by the man I really am
who to hold his own was trying.
And all beneath one roof we met,
yet none called his fellow brother,
No sign of recognition passed….
They knew not one another.

~Anonymous.