No.11

THE PESSIMIST

B.J. King (dates not known)

Nothing to do but work,

Nothing to eat but food,

Nothing to wear but clothes

To keep one from going nude.

Nothing to breathe but air,

Quick as a flash 'tis gone,

Nowhere to fall but off,

Nowhere to stand but on.

Nothing to comb but hair,

Nowhere to sleep but in bed,

Nothing to weep but tears,

Nothing to bury but dead.

Nothing to sing but songs,

Ah, well, alas, alack,

Nowhere to go but out,

Nowhere to come but back.

Nothing to see but sights, 

Nothing to quench but thirst,

Nothing to have but what we've got,

Thus through life we are cursed.

Nothing to strike but a gait,

Everything moves that goes.

Nothing at all but commonsense

Can ever withstand these woes. 

-o0o-

COUNSEL TO GIRLS 

Robert Herrick 1591-1674

Gather ye rosebuds, while ye may,

Old Time is still a-flying:

And this same flower that smiles today

Tomorrow will be dying.

The glorious Lamp of Heaven, the Sun

The higher he's a-getting

The sooner will his race be run,

And nearer he's to setting.

That age is best which is the first,

When youth and blood are warmer;

But being spent, the worse, and worst

Times, still succeed the former.

Then be not coy, but use your time;

And while ye may go marry:

For having lost but once your prime,

You may for ever tarry.

-o0o-

A BIRTHDAY
Christina Georgina Rossetti 1830-94

My heart is like a singing bird
Whose nest is in a watered shoot;
My heart is like an apple-tree
Whose boughs are bent with thickest fruit;
My heart is like a rainbow shell
That paddles in a halcyon sea;
My heart is gladder than all these
Because my love is come to me.

Raise me a dais of silk and down;
Hang it with vair and purple dyes;
Carve it in doves, and pomegranates,
And peacocks with a hundred eyes;
Work it in gold and silver grapes,
In leaves and silver fleur-de-lys;
Because the birthday of my life
Is come, my love is come to me.

-o0o-

 GOLDEN SLUMBERS

 Thomas Dekker c1572-1632

Golden slumbers kiss your eyes,
Smiles awake you when you rise.
Sleep, pretty wantons, do not cry,
And I will sing a lullaby:
Rock them, rock them, lullaby.

Care is heavy, therefore sleep you;
You are care, and care must keep you.
Sleep, pretty wantons, do not cry,
And I will sing a lullaby.
Rock them, rock them, lullaby.

-o0o-