TO THE OPTIMISTIC TRAMP

Hokitika Guardian, 4 July 1931, Page 2

TO THE OPTIMISTIC TRAMP

Digger! 1 take off my hat to you, luu really can see a joke. -Most men are ready to uinp the cat, When they haven’t a cig to smoke. Oli! iancy saying “It might be worse,” When you’ve run clean out oi bread. And have no hope of finding a job, Say! will you smile when you’re dean.

You’ve travelled five hundred miles or

No wonder your boots are worn, Perhaps if you waik another mile, You won’t have a “sole” your own. The day will come when you have to wear A halo, aound vour bead. You're smiling old fellow, I know why, You'll ride in a car when dead.

You say your trousers are worn quite thin, You fear a lady’s look, Just fancy yourself a howling toff Or a hero from a book. What if folks give you looks that freeze And never offer a bed. Ola fellow you’re smiling again you know, A hero you’ll be when dead,

I think yen were laughing all the while As you wrote that little rhyme, A world without war or depression, Gee! went it be too sublime? We’ll have such lots of evenings out, And never mind the head, Maybe next morning we’ll rue last night, ButNievor wish ourselves dead.

Now tell me, did you not smoke and dine? With polished hoots on your feet, In «nme little French,v Restaurant Where you got good tilings to eat Were you not proud of your uniform? And many a lady’s irlaroo. Answer me truly, yon Optimist Was it always “Worse in France?”