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C J Dennis - Brothers O` Mine
Work rating: Low

Brothers o` mine, brothers o` mine,
All the world over, from pole to pole --
All of them brothers of mine and thine --
Every wondering, blundering soul.
Banded together by grace divine,
Brothers o` mine, brothers o` mine.

Good Brother Green at the service sat --
Sat in the chapel and bowed his head;
Praying most fervently into his hat;
Bending his knee when The Word was read.
For good Brother Green was a godly man --
A godly keristian; and what be more,
He loved all sinners, and carefully ran
A worldy and prosperous grocery store.

"Brothers o` mine, brothers o` mine,"
Quoted the preacher, with dolorous drone:
"The Lord He hath given thee all that is thine.
Love ye not gold for itself alone.
E`er to the fallen thy mercy incline,
Love thou thy neighbour! O, brothers o` mine."

Good comrade Hal in the tavern sat --
Sat in the tavern and tossed his head,
Tilting a glass to the brim of his hat;
Bending his arm when the toast was said.
But comrade Hal was a godless man --
A godless sinner; and what be more,
He loved good liquor, and carelessly ran
A long, long bill at the grocery store.

"Brother o` mine, brother o` mine,"
Shouted the tippler in riotous tone,
"Toiled thou, and sweated for all that is thine;
But love not gold for itself alone.
Gold bringeth gladness and red, red wine.
Fill up another! O, brother o` mine."
 
Every Sabbath, since childhood years,
Good Brother Green at the service sat --
A traveller stern in this vale of tears --
Breathing his piety into his hat;
Praying for guidance and praying for light;
Vowing unworthiness more and more;
With a nice warm feeling that all was right
With the business of Green`s Cash Grocery Store.
 
"Brothers o` mine, brothers o` mine,"
Turn not away from thy brother in sin.
Afar let the light of your righteousness shine,
A beacon to gather the wanderer in.
Lovers of wickedness, lovers of wine,
All," said the worshipper, "brothers o` mine."
 
Every Sabbath, since childhood`s years,
Comrade Hal in the tavern sat --
A rioter gay in this vale of tears,
Tilting his glass to the brim of his hat;
Drinking from morn to the fall of night;
Vowing good-fellowship more and more;
With a nice warm feeling that all was right,
And a curse for the bill at the grocery store.
 
Brothers o` mine, brothers o` mine,
Seek ye a pew or a pewter to-day?
Where is the brotherhood vaunted divine --
Here, in the tavern - or over the way?
Drink is a snare, and a mocker is wine;
But the world? - Nay, forget it, O brothers o` mine!
 
Monday morn, with a soul for work,
Good Brother Green stood rubbing his hands --
Rubbing his hands with an oily smirk;
Seeking the trade a good name commands.
Came there a widow who pleaded for time --
For a month, for a week!  Ah, what would it mean!
"Sell up her sticks.  This pretence is a crime!
And business is business," quoth good Brother Green.
  
Brothers o` mine, brothers o` mine!
Cover your drunkenness, cover your spite!
Brother in piety, brother in wine --
Are we a brotherhood?  Lord give us light!
Lover of cant, or the lover of wine --
Which lov`st thou of these brothers o` thine?
 
Heavy and dull on the Monday morn,
Comrade Hal went rubbing his head -
Rubbing his head with an air forlorn;
Seeking the tavern where wine is red.
Passed he a beggar who aid invoked.
"Catch, then, brother," he merely cried,
Spinning a coin as he smiled and joked.
"Now I go thirsty," the tippler sighed.
 
Brothers o` mine, brothers o` mine --
Brothers in purple, brothers in rags --
Who can the bonds of your kin define?
Plead ye beggars, and jest ye wags!
"Nay, beggar brother, why dost thou whine?
All these good people are brothers o` thine."
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