|
MY JOLLY FRIEND`S SECRET
Ah, friend of mine, how goes it,
Since you`ve taken you a mate?--
Your smile, though, plainly shows it
Is a very happy state!
Dan Cupid`s necromancy!
You must sit you down and dine,
And lubricate your fancy
With a glass or two of wine. And as you have "deserted,"
As my other chums have done,
While I laugh alone diverted,
As you drop off one by one--
And I`ve remained unwedded,
Till--you see--look here--that I`m,
In a manner, "snatched bald-headed"
By the sportive hand of Time! I`m an "old `un!" yes, but wrinkles
Are not so plenty, quite,
As to cover up the twinkles
Of the BOY--ain`t I right?
Yet, there are ghosts of kisses
Under this mustache of mine
My mem`ry only misses
When I drown `em out with wine. From acknowledgment so ample,
You would hardly take me for
What I am--a perfect sample
Of a "jolly bachelor";
Not a bachelor has being
When he laughs at married life
But his heart and soul`s agreeing
That he ought to have a wife! Ah, ha I old chum, this claret,
Like Fatima, holds the key
Of the old Blue-Beardish garret
Of my hidden mystery!
Did you say you`d like to listen?
Ah, my boy! the "SAD NO MORE!"
And the tear-drops that will glisten--
TURN THE CATCH UPON THE DOOR, And sit you down beside me,
And put yourself at ease--
I`ll trouble you to slide me
That wine decanter, please;
The path is kind o` mazy
Where my fancies have to go,
And my heart gets sort o` lazy
On the journey--don`t you know? Let me see--when I was twenty--
It`s a lordly age, my boy,
When a fellow`s money`s plenty,
And the leisure to enjoy--
And a girl--with hair as golden
As--THAT; and lips--well--quite
As red as THIS I`m holdin`
Between you and the light. And eyes and a complexion--
Ah, heavens!--le`-me-see--
Well,--just in this connection,--
DID YOU LOCK THAT DOOR FOR ME?
Did I start in recitation
My past life to recall?
Well, THAT`S an indication
I am purty tight--that`s all!
|
