I told a truth, a tragic truth That tore the sullen sky; A million shuddered at my sooth And anarchist was I. Red righteousness was in my word

The porter in the Pullman car Was charming, as they sometimes ar… He scanned my baggage tags: “Are… The man who wrote of Lady Lou?” When I said “yes” he made a fuss…

In London City I evade For charming Burlington Arcade — For thee in youth I met a maid By name of Mazie, Who lost no time in telling me

Her smile ineffably is sweet, Devinely she is slim; Yet oh how weary are her feet, How aches her every limb! Thank God it’s near to closing ti…

Behold! I’m old; my hair is white… My eighty years are in the offing, And sitting by the fire to—night I sip a grog to ease my coughing. It’s true I’m raucous as a rook,

When we might make with happy hear… This world a paradise, With bombs we blast brave men apar… With napalm carbonize. Where we might till the sunny soil…

Before the florid portico I watched the gamblers come and go… While by me on a bench there sat A female in a faded hat; A shabby, shrinking, crumpled crea…

We’d left the sea—gulls long behin… And we were almost in mid—ocean; The sky was soft and blue and kind… The boat had scarcely any motion; Except that songfully it sped,

With peace and rest And wisdom sage, Ripeness is best Of every age. With hands that fold

(The French “Tommy”). Oh, some of us lolled in the chate… And some of us slinked in the slum… But now we are here with a song an… To serve at the sign of the drum.

So crystal clear it is to me That when I die I cease to be, All else seems sheer stupidity. All promises of Paradise Are wishful thinking, preacher’s l…

In youth I longed to paint The loveliness I saw; And yet by dire constraint I had to study Law. But now all that is past,

Three gentlemen live close beside… A painter of pictures bizarre, A poet whose virtues might guide m… A singer who plays the guitar; And there on my lintel is Cupid;

As I go forth from fair to mart With racket ringing, Who would divine that in my heart Mad larks are singing. As I sweet sympathy express,

Grand—daughter of the Painted Nai… As if they had been dipped in gore… I’d like to set you lugging pails And make you scrub the kitchen flo… I’m old and crotchety of course,