WHAT will we do when the good days come -- When the prima donna's lips are dumb, And the man who reads us his "little things" Has lost his voice like the girl who sings; When stilled is the breath of the cornet-man, And the shrilling chords of the quartette clan; When our neighbours' children have lost their drums -- Oh, what will we do when the good time comes? Oh, what will we do in that good, blithe time, When the tramp will work -- oh, thing sublime! And the scornful dame who stands on your feet Will "Thank you, sir," for the proffered seat; And the man you hire to work by the day, Will allow you to do his work your way; And the cook who trieth your appetite Will steal no more than she thinks is right; When the boy you hire will call you "Sir," Instead of "Say" and "Guverner"; When the funny man is humorsome -- How can we stand the millennium? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MORITURI SALUTAMUS [WE WHO ARE TO DIE SALUTE YOU] by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW THE JOURNEY ONWARDS by THOMAS MOORE AN ELEGY: TO AN OLD BEAUTY by THOMAS PARNELL THE LORDS OF THE MAIN by JOSEPH STANSBURY RONDEL by ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE THE LONG HILL by SARA TEASDALE SONNETS OF MANHOOD: 21. THE WORLD'S MARRIAGE MORN by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) |