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C J Dennis - The Mooch O` Life
Work rating: Medium

This ev`nin` I was sittin` wiv Doreen,
  Peaceful an` `appy wiv the day`s work done,
Watchin`, be`ind the orchard`s bonzer green,
  The flamin` wonder of the settin` sun.

Another day gone by; another night 
Creepin` along to douse Day`s golden light;
  Another dawning when the night is gone,
  To live an` love—an` so life mooches on.

Times I `ave thought, when things was goin` crook,
  When `Ope turned nark an` Love forgot to smile,
Of somethin` I once seen in some old book
  Where an ole sorehead arsts, "Is life worf w`ile?"

But in that stillness, as the day grows dim,
An` I am sittin` there wiv `er an` `im—
  My wife, my son! an` strength in me to strive,
  I only know—it`s good to be alive!

Yeh live, yeh love, yeh learn; an` when yeh come
  To square the ledger in some thortful hour, 
The everlastin` answer to the sum
  Must allus be, "Where`s sense in gittin` sour?"

Fer when yeh`ve come to weigh the good an` bad—
The gladness wiv the sadness you `ave `ad—
  Then `im `oo`s faith in `uman goodness fails
  Fergits to put `is liver in the scales.

Livin` an` loving learnin` day be day;
 Pausin` a minute in the barmy strife 
To find that `elpin` others on the way
 Is gold coined fer your profit—sich is life.

I`ve studied books wiv yearnings to improve,
To `eave meself out of me lowly groove,
  An` `ere is orl the change I ever got:
  "`Ark at yer `eart, an` you kin learn the lot."

I gives it in—that wisdom o` the mind—
 I wasn`t built to play no lofty part.
Orl such is welkim to the joys they find;
 I only know the wisdom o` the `eart.

An` ever it `as taught me, day be day, 
The one same lesson in the same ole way:
  "Look fer yer profits in the `earts o` friends,
  Fer `atin` never paid no dividends."

Life`s wot yeh make it; an` the bloke `oo tries
To grab the shinin` stars frum out the skies
  Goes crook on life, an` calls the world a cheat,
  An` tramples on the daisies at `is feet.

But when the moon comes creepin` o`er the hill,
  An` when the mopoke calls along the creek,
I takes me cup o` joy an` drinks me fill,
  An` arsts meself wot better could I seek.

An` ev`ry song I `ear the thrushes sing 
That everlastin` message seems to bring;
  An` ev`ry wind that whispers in the trees
  Gives me the tip there ain`t no joys like these:

Livin` an` loving wand`rin` on yet way;
  Reapin` the `arvest of a kind deed done;
An` watching in the sundown of yer day,
  Yerself again, grown nobler in yer son.

Knowin` that ev`ry coin o` kindness spent 
Bears interest in yer `eart at cent per cent;
  Measurin` wisdom by the peace it brings
  To simple minds that values simple things.

An` when I take a look along the way
  That I `ave trod, it seems the man knows best,
Who`s met wiv slabs of sorrer in `is day,
  When `e is truly rich an` truly blest.

An` I am rich, becos me eyes `ave seen 
The lovelight in the eyes of my Doreen;
  An` I am blest, becos me feet `ave trod
  A land `oo`s fields reflect the smile o` God.

Livin` an` lovin`; learnin` to fergive
  The deeds an` words of some un`appy bloke
Who`s missed the bus—so `ave I come to live,
  An` take the `ole mad world as `arf a joke.

Sittin` at ev`nin` in this sunset-land,
Wiv `Er in all the World to `old me `and,
  A son, to bear me name when I am gone….
  Livin` an` lovin`—so life mooches on.
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