 | The select poems of Dr. Thomas Dunn English (exclusive of the "Battle lyrics") |  |
TAKING IT EASY.
I laughed when Dora said she'd have me—
My star of life seemed mounting high;
My heart with joy ecstatic bounded—
Why what a precious fool was I!
And when she left me for another
I heaved a most heart-breaking sigh,
And tear-drops fell as big as bullets—
Why what a precious fool was I
To laugh when ill was hanging o'er
And cry when fortune smiled once more.
My star of life seemed mounting high;
My heart with joy ecstatic bounded—
Why what a precious fool was I!
And when she left me for another
I heaved a most heart-breaking sigh,
And tear-drops fell as big as bullets—
Why what a precious fool was I
To laugh when ill was hanging o'er
And cry when fortune smiled once more.
I smiled when I was nominated
For Congress, politicians by
Who thought my pocket needed bleeding—
Why what a precious fool was I!
I frowned when after the election
I found our party high and dry,
And glared upon the other fellows—
Why what a precious fool was I
To smile when frowns should scorn attest,
And frown when smiles became me best.
For Congress, politicians by
Who thought my pocket needed bleeding—
Why what a precious fool was I!
I frowned when after the election
I found our party high and dry,
And glared upon the other fellows—
Why what a precious fool was I
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And frown when smiles became me best.
I sang aloud when wealth came pouring
Without sufficient reason why,
And spent it as I got it quickly—
Why what a precious fool was I!
I moaned when all my riches vanished,
And left me toil again to try,
And fretted much at my reverses—
Why what a precious fool was I
To sing when moans were just the thing,
And moan when I had cause to sing.
Without sufficient reason why,
And spent it as I got it quickly—
Why what a precious fool was I!
I moaned when all my riches vanished,
And left me toil again to try,
And fretted much at my reverses—
Why what a precious fool was I
To sing when moans were just the thing,
And moan when I had cause to sing.
Now, white-haired bachelor and merry,
I laugh at hearing others sigh;
To sigh when sighs are useless only,
Why not that precious fool am I.
I smoke my pipe and sip my toddy,
My spirits neither low nor high;
Nor pain nor pleasure much excites me—
Not such a precious fool am I!
Wealth, women, politics—all these
I let alone, and take my ease.
I laugh at hearing others sigh;
To sigh when sighs are useless only,
Why not that precious fool am I.
I smoke my pipe and sip my toddy,
My spirits neither low nor high;
Nor pain nor pleasure much excites me—
Not such a precious fool am I!
Wealth, women, politics—all these
I let alone, and take my ease.
| The select poems of Dr. Thomas Dunn English (exclusive of the "Battle lyrics") | |