THE "TA-RA-RA" BOOM.

(By Our Own Melancholy Muser.)

I am shrouded in impenetrable gloom-de-ay,

For I feel I'm being driven to my doom-de-ay,

By an aggravating ditty

Which I don't consider witty;

And they call the horrid thing, "Ta-ra-ra-boom-de-ay!"

Every 'bus-conductor, errand-boy, and groom-de-ay,

City clerk, and cheeky crossing-sweep with broom-de-ay

Makes my nervous system bristle

As he tries to sing or whistle

That atrocious and absurd "Ta-ra-ra-boom-de-ay!"

So I sit in the seclusion of my room-de-ay,

And deny myself to all—no matter whom-de-ay—

For I dread a creature coming

Whose involuntary humming

May assume the fatal form, "Ta-ra-ra-boom-de-ay!"

Oh, I fear that when the Summer roses bloom-de-ay,

You will read upon a well-appointed tomb-de ay:—

"Influenza never lick'd him,

But he fell an easy victim

To that universal scourge—'Ta-ra-ra-boom-de-ay!'"