You'd Never Think 'Twas True
There are many things to do without
though you’d never think ‘twas true
a car drinks costly gasoline
so a bicycle will do
but just last night I left it out
the rain did soak it wet
and come the morn’ it’d rusted shut
I guess I’ll walk instead
I came to town at half past nine
when the guard went suddenly pale
he pointed to my shoe and said
“Ey mate, you’ve caught a nail!”
Off they came, I’ll do without
though you’d never think ‘twas true
my feet were bare, and the warming air
did tickle them right through
So I stopped in the market, smiling so
and gazed o’er my bushy moustache
and I thought “oh right, the grocery list”
and reached for my pockets, alas!
A tiny white hand, with fingers cold
tugged at my wrist, egad!
The child was covered in mud. head to toe
an orphan, but 5-years old
His eyes, bright blue, and hair dirty blonde
and overalls that came to his ears
not a word and I’d given my last silver coin
to a ghost who just disappeared
“Oh bother,” I said, “that’s making me blue,
to the lake, for a swim, I shall go”
And ‘twas not a soul there, when stripped to my bare
I made out, swiftly from shore
I swam, and swam, and swam, till it hurt
and I thought to myself “Oh my!”
I’d forgotten the asthma, that hides in my lungs
and comes up quick, “Will I die?”
And just when I’d given my soul to the deep
and stretched out my limbs to the waves,
my hand struck the mud, and I opened my eyes
“An island! What a fool I’ve been”
Dragged to the shore, I sat on a rock
and dripped, and shivered, and wept
but presently, my skin did dry
and the breeze came up warm from the West
As the sun bent low, set the lake on fire
I remembered a kiss, long ago
in a place like this, only younger and white
I still talk to her you know
for there are many things we can do without
and I was unusually pleased...
you’d never think t’was true, but I’d realized here,
all you need is your memory.