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James Whitcomb Riley - My Jolly Friend`s Secret
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Ah, friend of mine, how goes it,
    Since you`ve taken you a mate?--
Your smile, though, plainly shows it
    Is a very happy state!
Dan Cupid`s necromancy!
    You must sit you down and dine,
And lubricate your fancy
    With a glass or two of wine.

And as you have "deserted,"
    As my other chums have done,
While I laugh alone diverted,
    As you drop off one by one--
And I`ve remained unwedded,
    Till--you see--look here--that I`m,
In a manner, "snatched bald-headed"
    By the sportive hand of Time!

I`m an "old `un!" yes, but wrinkles
    Are not so plenty, quite,
As to cover up the twinkles
    Of the BOY--ain`t I right?
Yet, there are ghosts of kisses
    Under this mustache of mine
My mem`ry only misses
    When I drown `em out with wine.

From acknowledgment so ample,
    You would hardly take me for
What I am--a perfect sample
    Of a "jolly bachelor";
Not a bachelor has being
    When he laughs at married life
But his heart and soul`s agreeing
    That he ought to have a wife!

Ah, ha I old chum, this claret,
    Like Fatima, holds the key
Of the old Blue-Beardish garret
    Of my hidden mystery!
Did you say you`d like to listen?
    Ah, my boy! the "SAD NO MORE!"
And the tear-drops that will glisten--
    TURN THE CATCH UPON THE DOOR,

And sit you down beside me,
    And put yourself at ease--
I`ll trouble you to slide me
    That wine decanter, please;
The path is kind o` mazy
    Where my fancies have to go,
And my heart gets sort o` lazy
    On the journey--don`t you know?

Let me see--when I was twenty--
    It`s a lordly age, my boy,
When a fellow`s money`s plenty,
    And the leisure to enjoy--
And a girl--with hair as golden
    As--THAT; and lips--well--quite
As red as THIS I`m holdin`
    Between you and the light.

And eyes and a complexion--
    Ah, heavens!--le`-me-see--
Well,--just in this connection,--
    DID YOU LOCK THAT DOOR FOR ME?
Did I start in recitation
    My past life to recall?
Well, THAT`S an indication
    I am purty tight--that`s all!
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