Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, DOWN ON THE DEAD END, by PATRICK MACGILL


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

DOWN ON THE DEAD END, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: I've toiled at the end of creation, stripped to the trousers and shirt
Last Line: And perhaps in the ultimate scramble I'll corner a shakedown above.
Subject(s): Alcoholism & Alcoholics; Death; Gambling; Dead, The; Wagering; Betting


I'VE toiled at the end of creation, stripped to the trousers and shirt,
I've hashed like the very damnation and squandered my money like dirt,
And jobs that are nameless I've wrought in, and deeds that are shameless I've
done,
And fights without number I've fought in, and paid like the deuce for my fun.

I've piled up the slush in the bucket, down to my knees in the drift,
Wet till I felt I must chuck it, or drop like a mule at my shift,
In dreary and desolate places, with the boss standing glowering by
At his men and their fungous-white faces, I've felt as if ready to die.

Drink, and I've tried to keep from it, women and cards — 't was the same,
The dog will return to his vomit, the devil is boss of the game,
The red of the wine cup has hidden the adders with poisonous teeth,
The sunlight is bright on the midden, with the rot of the wide world beneath.

Disheartened, discarded, disgusted, I'm down on the dead-line once more,
Beggared, benighted and bursted, the jail or the work-house before —
Well, life had its trouble and worry, the Fates have been devilish hard,
My chances went by in a hurry, I plunged on the rottenest card.

I haven't a pipe-full of Carroll's to cheer me while tramping it out,
And getting because of my morals a hell of a knocking about,
— Well! life was a foolhardy gamble and down in its by-ways I strove,
And perhaps in the ultimate scramble I'll corner a shakedown above.





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