That's shaking it:

He's getting desperate—bolting it slap dash—

A decent mouthful for a throat not big.

Now here's a pretty lesson for all sinners,

Hunger's the sauce to sweeten Christmas dinners.

The fire burns blue—the nearest part gets roasted—

The "off-side" suffers in the frigid zone;

Just like a slice of bread that's been half toasted—

One spot is brown'd—the other cold as stone.

The winds are hoarse, the sun gets shy and cool,