Page:Ballads of a Bohemian.djvu/126

124 (God save each little drowsy head!) A cozy chat with wife a-sewing, A silver lining clouds that low’r, Then she too goes, and with her going, I come again into my Hour.

I poke the fire, I snugly settle, My pipe I prime with proper care; The water’s purring in the kettle, Rum, lemon, sugar, all are there. And now the honest grog is steaming, And now the trusty briar’s aglow: Alas! in smoking, drinking, dreaming, How sadly swift the moments go!

Oh, golden hour! ’twixt love and duty, All others I to others give; But you are mine to yield to Beauty, To glean Romance, to greatly live. For in my easy-chair reclining… ''I feel the sting of ocean spray; ''And yonder wondrously are shining ''The Magic Isles of Far Away.

''Beyond the comber’s crashing thunder ''Strange beaches flash into my ken; ''On jetties heaped head-high with plunder ''I dance and dice with sailor-men. ''Strange stars swarm down to burn above me, ''Strange shadows haunt, strange voices greet; ''Strange women lure and laugh and love me, ''And fling their bastards at my feet.