Saturday, January 02, 2010

The Reckoning

I know that there are some out there that partied hard on New Year's Eve. And that some of you may still be paying the price. For you who may still feel the pounding between your ears and the spin cycle at work in your stomach, I have a bit of advice from Robert W. Service:

THE RECKONING


It's fine to have a blow-out in a fancy restaurant,
With terrapin and canvas-back and all the wine you want;
To enjoy the flowers and music, watch the pretty women pass,
Smoke a choice cigar, and sip the wealthy water in your glass;
It's bully in a high-toned joint to eat and drink your fill,
But it's quite another matter when you
Pay the bill.

It's great to go out every night on fun or pleasure bent,
To wear your glad rags always, and to never save a cent;
To drift along regardless, have a good time every trip;
To hit the high spots sometimes, and to let your chances slip;
To know you're acting foolish, yet to go on fooling still,
Till Nature calls a show-down, and you
Pay the bill.

Time has got a little bill--get wise while yet you may,
For the debit side's increasing in a most alarming way;
The things you had no right to do, the things you should have done,
They're all put down: it's up to you to pay for every one.
So eat, drink, and be merry, have a good time if you will,
But God help you when the time comes, and you
Foot the bill.
Not bad advice for daily living either.

1 comment:

Cassie said...

Cute poem. Didn't apply to our new years eve or Jan.1st. Patrick was sound asleep by 930pm while I was busy packing up for our roadtrip back to Phoenix. Did wake him up long enough to say happy new year though no spirits were involved!
Happy New Year to you and Terry!! Here's hoping that cold front passes.