FAREWELL then, my golden repeater, We're come to my Uncle's old shop; And hunger won't be a dumb-waiter, The Cerberus growls for a sop! To quit thee, my comrade diurnal, My feelings will certainly scotch; But oh! there's a riot internal, And Famine calls out for the Watch! Oh! hunger's a terrible trial, I really must have a relief, -- So here goes the plate of your dial To fetch me some Williams's beef! As famish'd as any lost seaman, I've fasted for many a dawn, And now must play chess with the Demon, And give it a @3check@1 with a @3pawn.@1 I've fasted, since dining at Buncle's, Two days with true Perceval zeal -- And now must make up at my Uncle's, By getting a @3duplicate@1 meal. No Peachum it is, or young Lockit, That rifles my fob with a snatch; Alas! I must pick my own pocket, And make gravy-soup of my watch! So long I have wander'd a starver, I'm getting as keen as a hawk; Time's long hand must take up a carver, His short hand lay hold of a fork. Right heavy and sad the event is, But oh! it is Poverty's crime; I've been such a Brownrigg's Apprentice. I thus must be "out of my Time." Alas! when in Brook Street the Upper, In comfort I lived between walls, I've gone to a dance for my supper; And now I must go to Three Balls! Folks talk about dressing for dinner, But I have for dinner undrest; Since Christmas, as I am a sinner, I've eaten a suit of my best. I haven't a rag or a mummock To fetch me a chop or a steak; I wish that the coats of my stomach Were such as my uncle would take! When dishes were ready with garnish My watch used to warn with a chime -- But now my repeater must furnish The dinner in lieu of the time! My craving will have no denials, I can't fob it off, if you stay, So go, -- and the old Seven Dials Must tell me the time of the day. Your chimes I shall never more hear 'em, To part is a Tic Douloureux! But Tempus has his edax rerum, And I have my Feeding-Time too! Farewell then, my golden repeater, We're come to my Uncle's old shop -- And Hunger won't be a dumb-waiter, The Cerberus growls for a sop! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE ROSE AND THE BEE by SARA TEASDALE SONNETS FROM THE PORTUGUESE: 1 by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING DARK ROSALEEN by TOMAS COSTELLO MELANCHOLIA by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR JOHN BROWN'S BODY by CHARLES SPRAGUE HALL MUSIC IN CAMP by JOHN REUBEN THOMPSON INCIDENT CHARACTERISTIC OF A FAVOURITE DOG by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH |