The Rubàiyàt of Ohow Dryyàm
Copyrighted 1922
by Leedon Publishing Company
Leedon Publishing Company
405 flood building
san francisco
THE
RUBAIYAT
OF
OHOW DRYYAM
By J. L. DUFF
With Apologies to
OMAR
Illustrated by
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
[Not of Philadelphia]
The Rubaiyat of Ohow Dryyam
I
Wail! for the Law has scattered into flight
Those Drinks that were our sometime dear Delight;
And still the Morals-tinkers plot and plan
New, sterner, stricter Statutes to indite.
II
After the phantom of our Freedom died
Methought a Voice within the Tavern cried:
“Drink coffee, Lads, for that is all that’s left
Since our Land of the Free is washed—and dried.”
And still the Morals-tinkers plot and plan
New, sterner, stricter Statutes to indite.
III
The Haigs indeed are gone, and on the Nose
That bourgeoned once with color of the rose
A deathly Pallor sits, while down the lane
Where once strode Johnny Walker—Water goes.
IV
Come, fill the Cup, and in the Coffee-house
We’ll learn a new and temperate Carouse—
The Bird of Time flies with a steadier wing
But roosts with sleepless Eye—a Coffee Souse!
V
Each morn a thousand Recipes, you say—
Yes, but where match the beer of Yesterday?
And those Spring Months that used to bring the Bock
Seem very long ago and far away.
The Bird of Time flies with a steadier wing
But roosts with sleepless Eye—a Coffee Souse!
VI
A Book of Blue Laws underneath the Bough,
A pot of Tea, a piece of Toast,—and Thou
Beside me sighing in the Wilderness—
Wilderness? It’s Desert, Sister, now.
VII
Some for a Sunday without Taint, and Some
Sigh for Inebriate Paradise to come,
While Moonshine takes the Cash (no Credit goes)
And real old Stuff demands a Premium.
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