What He Got Out Of It

He never took a day of rest --
He couldn't afford it;
He never had his trousers pressed --
He couldn't afford it;
He never went away care-free,
To visit distant lands, to see
How fair a place this world might be --
He couldn't afford it.


He never went to see a play --
He couldn't afford it;
His love for art he put away --
He couldn't afford it;
He died, and left his heirs a lot,
But no tall shaft proclaims the spot
In which he lies -- his children thought
They couldn't afford it.

(As published in the Lisburn Standard 7 June 1918)