Leaning on the gallows pole,
Dress'd in black and gold and silver,
Eating only to be whole,—
Another cigarette is torch'd;
5
Another beery cup is clear'd;
Earth where'er he's stood is scorch'd;
Souls wherein he's search'd are sear'd.
He could come a better man;
With his loveliest's admission
He should spring an upright plan:
But those women he considers dear
13
So he somberly resumes his sneer
Then, skulking like a scavenger
17
Or slith'ring like a snake,
He's afforded to be traveller
And sought to be a rake;—
When a Man's most scoundrel spirit swells
21
His mind goes one foul place,
And the tales he never tells
Amongst his cells hold greedy space.
Church-bells chime from high on hill;
25
Sunshine slips o'er window-sill;
Choir-girls' voices ring;
His smile's as big as anyone's;
29
He wakes and 'glorifies';
From river to the rock he runs
To tune of fem'nine sighs.
Are all that take his coin;
Apart from smokes and shelter, all,
Apart from suits and tenderloin.
A blue-eyed girl with curly locks
37
Is all that takes his heart
And keeps his head from out the stocks,
His end beyond his start.