THIRTY-NINE

O hapless day! O wretched day!

I hoped you'd pass me by —

Alas, the years have sneaked away

And all is changed but I!

Had I the power, I would remand

You to a gloom condign,

But here you've crept upon me and

I — I am thirty-nine!

Now, were I thirty-five, I could

Assume a flippant guise;

Or, were I forty years, I should

Undoubtedly look wise;

For forty years are said to bring

Sedateness superfine;

But thirty-nine do n't mean a thing —

À bas with thirty-nine!

You healthy, hulking girls and boys,—

What makes you grow so fast?

Oh, I'll survive your lusty noise —

I'm tough and bound to last!

No, no — I'm old and withered too —

I feel my powers decline

( Yet none believes this can be true

Of one at thirty-nine ).

And you, dear girl with velvet eyes,

I wonder what you mean

Through all our keen anxieties

By keeping sweet sixteen.

With your dear love to warm my heart,

Wretch were I to repine;

I was but jesting at the start —

I'm glad I'm thirty-nine!

So, little children, roar and race

As blithely as you can,

And, sweetheart, let your tender grace

Exalt the Day and Man;

For then these factors ( I'll engage )

All subtly shall combine

To make both juvenile and sage

The one who's thirty-nine!

Yes, after all, I'm free to say

I would much rather be

Standing as I do stand to-day,

‘ Twixt devil and deep sea;

For though my face be dark with care

Or with a grimace shine,

Each haply falls unto my share,

For I am thirty-nine!

‘ Tis passing meet to make good cheer

And lord it like a king,

Since only once we catch the year

That does n't mean a thing.

O happy day! O gracious day!

I pledge thee in this wine —

Come, let us journey on our way

A year, good Thirty-Nine!

Sept. , .