Life is a race, but was it fair,
We asked, that these should be the winners?
We, too, would win; and Heaven knows
What vows we uttered fiery-hearted,
While '89 drew to its close,
And '90 found us—so we parted.
And here, good lack, while '90 wanes,
Our candles flaring in their sockets,
We sit once more and count our gains—