To Charley Edson
—“I wanchya meeta 'nol' 'nol frien' o' mine!”
—” Umgladdameecha! Bill's frien's my frien's, too!”
—“Thish frien' besh frien'! I gotto open wine!”
—“You gotto le' me buy thish drink f'r you!”
—“I gotto buy thish drink f'r 'nol' 'nol' frien'!”
—“Now, lishen, Jim! You gonna love thish lad!”
—“Billsh friensh is my friensh to th' bitter en'!”
—“Now, lishen, Jim! thish besh frien' ever had!”
Honest, hardworking drunkards! Hour by hour
They toiled on at their chosen task until
They bent beneath the burdens that they bore,
They bent and swayed, sustained but by the power,
Each one, of his Indomitable Will,
Which ever bade him conquer Just One More.
XXII—TRUE, BUT WHAT OF IT?
To Gilbert Gabriel
Old Demon Rum, they say you ruined homes,
Bashing the piteous Wife betwixt her eyes.
Stabbing Aunt Tildy with her own hair-combs,
And teaching your young offspring stealth and lies
Angel! they say that one night, lost to grace,
You filched the infant's coral from her crib,
Hocked it, and blew the loot at Leery's Place-
Then strangled Baby Sister in her bib
Because it purchased only sixteen beers!
Demon! they say you used to cut up rough,
Sowing the earth with poverty and tears—
And I believe it readily enough!
I do admit your crimes as charged above,
But, Angel! crime can never kill my love!