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*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RUBAIYAT OF OHOW DRYYAM *** Produced by K. Nordquist, Jacqueline Jeremy and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) The RubĂ iyĂ t of Ohow DryyĂ m
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.

A Book of Blue Laws underneath the Bough,
A pot of Tea, a piece of Toast,—and Thou ...

VIII
The Scanty Stock we set our hearts upon Still dwindles and declines until anon,
Like Snow upon the Desert’s dusty Face, It lights us for an hour and then—is gone. IX
Ah, my Beloved, fill the Cup that clears Today of past Regrets and future Fears—
Tomorrow!—Why, Tomorrow I may be In Canada or Scotland or Algiers! X
Yes, make the most of what we still may spend; The last Drop’s lingering Taste may yet transcend
Anticipation’s Bliss—though we are left Sans Wine, Sans Song, Sans Singer, and—Sans End.

The Scanty Stock we set our hearts upon ...

XI
Alike for those who for the Drouth prepared And those who, like myself, more poorly fared,
Fond Memory weaves Roseate Shrouds to dress Departed Spirits we have loved—and shared. XII
Myself when young did eagerly frequent The gilded Bar, and all my Lucre spent
For bottled Joyousness, but evermore Came out less steadily than in I went. XIII
The legal Finger writes; and having writ, Moves on—and neither Thirst nor Wit
Has lured it back to cancel half a line To give a Man excuse for being lit.

Myself when young did eagerly frequent
The gilded Bar ...

XIV
And Bill the Bootlegger—the Infidel!— When He takes my last Cent for just a Smell
Of Hooch, I wonder what Bootleggers buy One half so precious as the Stuff they sell. XV
Oh Bill, Who dost with White Mule and with Gin Beset the Road I am to Wander in,
If I am garnered of the Law, wilt Thou, All piously, Impute my Fall to Sin?

And Bill the Bootlegger—the Infidel!—

XVI
Yon rising Moon that looks for us again— How oft hereafter will she wax and wane;
But, Oh, how oft before we have beheld Six Moons arise—who now seek Two in vain. XVII
And when Thyself at last shall come to trip Down that dim Dock where Charon loads his Ship,
I’ll meet Thee on the other Wharf if Thou Wilt promise to have Something on thy Hip.

But, Oh, how oft before we have beheld
Six Moons arise ...

End of Project Gutenberg's The Rubaiyat of Ohow Dryyam, by J. L. Duff

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