The Richness of Life by Ben Eggleton reflects on what it truly means to be wealthy.
Rather than measuring richness by bank balances, possessions or status, Ben looks to peace, love, gratitude and contentment. The poem asks a simple but powerful question: if money is not the measure of a good life, how rich are we really?
Ben originally shared the written poem with Country Campfire and then recorded a special recital for us, allowing the written and spoken versions to be preserved together.
This poem is published with Ben’s permission as part of Keeping The Verse Alive, Country Campfire’s project to preserve Australian bush poetry for future generations.
The Richness of Life
by A.B. (Ben) Eggleton — The Bard From The Scrub
So, it is said if you are rich
Or you haven’t got a dollar
Life is all the same
You all wake in the morning
Take care of nature
With some, breakfast awaits
Others, not at all
A story is told of a rich man
One who’s bank grows constant
Even while sleeping
He wakes in the morning
Reads the stock report
Breakfast on the run, office calls
How rich is this man?
Another in a humble village
In his pocket but a few coins
As when he went to sleep
He wakes in the morning
Surveys the outside sky
Collects eggs, breakfast planned
How rich is this man?
I wake in the morning to peace
Beside me is the love, a lady
Money is not a burden to us
But a means to an end
A necessary evil to ease the day
It doesn’t matter, happy am I
How rich is this man?
Morals to stories get told each day
If you are rich, or ain’t got a dollar
Be at peace with what you have
Envy can be your downfall
For it is far easier to be at peace
When money is not your God
Then find out how rich you are
Written this day, July 20 2023 by
A.B. (BEN) EGGLETON
THE BARD FROM THE SCRUB
Listen to Ben Eggleton Recite The Richness of Life
Ben recorded this recital especially for Country Campfire so the poem could be preserved in both written and spoken form.
Keeping The Verse Alive
The Richness of Life is shared with permission from Ben Eggleton as part of Keeping The Verse Alive, Country Campfire’s bush poetry preservation project.
Ben Eggleton
Bush Poet • Songwriter • Storyteller
A passionate storyteller of rural Australia, Ben Eggleton has shared original poetry and music through recordings, performances and published works. Known as The Bard From The Scrub, his work helps preserve the people, places and traditions that shape country life.
Poems, recitals, photographs, stories and original works remain the property of their original creator and are shared by Country Campfire with permission.
