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Read more poems by Robert Service: Robert Service Poems at Poetry X.

Father drank himself to death,--
          Quite enjoyed it.
Urged to draw a sober breath
          He'd avoid it.
'Save your sympathy,' said Dad;
          'Never sought it.
Hob-nail liver, gay and glad,
          Sure,--I bought it.'

Uncle made a heap of dough,
          Ponies playing.
'Easy come and easy go,'
          Was his saying.
Though he died in poverty
          Fit he thought it,
Grinning with philosophy:
          'Guess I bought it.'

Auntie took the way of sin,
          Seeking pleasure;
Lovers came, her heart to win,
          Bringing treasure.
Sickness smote,--with lips that bled
          Brave she fought it;
Smiling on her dying bed:
          'Dears, I bought it.'

My decades of life are run,
          Eight precisely;
Yet I've lost a lot of fun
          Living wisely.
Too much piety don't pay,
          Time has taught it;
Hadn't guts to go astray;
Life's a bloody bore today,--
          Well, I've bought it.

Added: 29 Jun 2002 | Last Read: 4 Sep 2026 3:32 AM | Viewed: 4609 times

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