The Dead Marine

NZ Truth, Issue 1018, 30 May 1925, Page 4

The Dead Marine

O " O O . It is only an old, empty bottle O O With its label) all*attered and, torn, O O Ancjl it lies 'neath the tub m the wash house, O O Forgotten, . alone and forlorn. O 0 ' ■■-■ "■ -. ■ '■■..:■,.••■' ■. .0 O Not a fortnight before on the sideboard, O O . Like a prince m his pride did it stand, . O O A thing to admire and to reVrence, l O O Gold-crowned with the badge of its brand. O o .-.■.■■.. o O 'Twas a party that night, I remember, O O For the wife was away for a rest; O O There were Perkins and Desmond and Dorcas— O O But IT was the principal guest.- O O O O How we cheered as it came to the table! . ' O> O . Our joy was a joy you could feel, Os O For all night as we played had we eyed it, O O . Licked our lips as we' studied the deal} O o .. ■.■".,. -. :-, ' ■■ v oO It was poured; and m silence we drank it, O O Only pausing our glasses to clink. O O And, oh! with what sorrow 'twas ended O O And the remnants transferred to the sink. O On ■ O O And 'twas, sadly next morn I removed it, O O ( But. I swore I would never forget; O O Bui, alas! being human, my mem'ry O O Stayed not with a sun that was set. O o ; .0 O , I forgot; and to-day I regret it, O O But regrets, like excuses, are vain, O O { For the wife has returned and unearthed it, O O And she's calling me out to explain! „ O O V. — CiH.O. O o .■■-■■ o 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000