Page:Poems by Robert Louis Stevenson, Hitherto unpublished, 1921.djvu/71

 LINK YOUR ARM IN MINE, MY LAD

Link your arm in mine, my lad—

You and I together,

You and I and all the rest

Shall face the winter weather.

Chorus

Some to good, and some to harm,

Some to cheer the others,

All the world goes arm in arm,

And all the men are brothers.

Fortune kicks us here and there,

Small our role in life, lad.

Better paltry peace, howe'er,

Than hero-laurelled strife, lad.

While there's liquor to be had,

Deeply drain the bickers.

Ocean plays at marbles, lad,

With men of war for knickers.

Who will ever hear of me?

Who will hear of you, lad?

Devil take posterity

And present people too, lad!

[ 63 ]