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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


SAM TO JOHN by GEORGE S. CHAPPELL

First Line: DEAR JOHN, I AM MOVED BY THE COURSE OF EVENTS
Last Line: IT'S THIS HERE, NOW, ENTENTE CORDIALE.
Subject(s): FRIENDSHIP;

Dear John, I am moved by the course of events
To write you a neighborly line,
Which I hope you won't think is at all a defence
Of a recent refusal of mine.
I know that you feel that I ought to come in
And sit in that Genoa game;
"There's Sam," you remark, "simply loaded with tin!
Why, the money he's got is a shame!"

Well, I'll have to admit there's some sting in that slap,
And I do feel at times rather blue,
To think that the job of re-vising the map,
Should be borne so exclusive by you.
But, John, as you know, this here Europe is not
What you might call a piece of my land,
And though its condition, of course, means a lot,
Still, I've got my own troubles on hand.

And when I observe how you shifted the buck
To Ireland, and what a hooray
They raised at the wonderful turn in their luck
And then, when I see 'em to-day! --
Though I know there ain't no sort of shadow of blame
On you, still, when such things I see,
Well, John, I'm plumb scared to come into your game.
Gosh! just think what you @3might@1 hand to me!

But when you get through and the gang says goodnight
If you need any comfort at all,
Well, I guess you know where you can find it all right,
And you won't have to wait in the hall.
Our cellars have run sort of dry, I confess,
But we still have a glass for a pal.
And some wine that you'll find kind of tasty, I guess;
It's this here, now, Entente Cordiale.



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