A man’s beard is his fortune

A man’s beard is his fortune 
All the years of pain and grief 
From luck to misfortune 
To the stirrings from underneath 
That brought the boy from his birth 
Through the years of pain growth 
Playing in mud and the dirt 
To the day of his oath 
Providing food for his children 
Love for them whole 
Pouring wine for his kindred
Bread for their soul 
That thy journey into the sky yonder 
Where death meets life in tears 
For the life that does wonder 
As the day of his fears 
A man’s beard is his suffering 
In a white shroud amidst clouds 
For the years of pain and grieving 
God’s call for men proud 
All creatures hear thy name 
These days written in the book 
For life is not a game 
That death once in a mirror took 
A man’s beard is his fortune 
All the years of pain grief 
From luck to misfortune 
To the stirrings from underneath