Page:Rudyard Kipling's verse - Inclusive Edition 1885-1918.djvu/85

Rh So long as little luncheons, Love,

And scandal hold their vogue,

While there is sport at Annandale

Or whisky at Jutogh,

If you love me as I love you

What knife can cut our love in two?

So long as down the rocking floor

The raving polka spins,

So long as Kitchen Lancers spur

The maddened violins,

So long as through the whirling smoke

We hear the oft-told tale—

"Twelve hundred in the Lotteries,"

And Whatshername for sale?

If you love me as I love you

We'll play the game and win it too.

So long as Lust or Lucre tempt

Straight riders from the course,

So long as with each drink we pour

Black brewage of Remorse,

So long as those unloaded guns

We keep beside the bed,

Blow off, by obvious accident,

The lucky owner's head,

If you love me as I love you

What can Life kill of Death undo?

So long as Death 'twixt dance and dance

Chills best and bravest blood,

And drops the reckless rider down

The rotten, rain-soaked khud,