They whose strong arms urge the oar,
Heave the dusty coal, or they
Who with strong word and stronger hand
Restrain horses all the day -
Cattle punch, or barges steer,
Munching onions, drinking beer :
All the rake Hell naughty lads -
Apprentices or undergrads -
Randy squires, lusty lords,
Jolly strumpets, brazen bawds:
All these spirits, virile, free -
I loved them and they loved me.
I was ever at their beck,
Ever ready to bedeck
With my brilliance, hot, intense,
The strophes of their eloquence.
Once maiden ladies, timid men,
Shuddered when they heard me named.
And when in print I did appear
By mystic stars I was proclaimed;
Or else a discreet dash did show
Enough of my rich red hot glow.
Now, thanks to Masefield and to Shaw,
No callow flapper, howe'er raw,
Who writes her book, but lugs me in!
I who was once scarlet as sin,
Am overworked and droop, poor me,
As mild as milk, as China tea -
I'm near as feeble now, I am,
As my poor old worn-out Goddam!
And it's you good folk what's to blame -
I reckon it's a bloody shame!