Wilfrid Wilson Gibson. A Catch for Singing. Harriet Monroe, ed. Poetry: A Magazine of Verse. 1912-22

Harriet Monroe, ed. (1860–1936). Poetry: A Magazine of Verse. 1912–22.

A Catch for Singing

By Wilfrid Wilson Gibson


SAID the Old Young Man to the Young Old Man:
“Alack, and well-a-day!”
Said the Young Old Man to the Old Young Man:
“The cherry-tree’s in flourish!”

Said the Old Young Man to the Young Old Man:	5
“The world is growing gray.”
Said the Young Old Man to the Old Young Man:
“The cherry-tree’s in flourish!”

Said the Old Young Man to the Young Old Man:
“Both flower and fruit decay.”	10
Said the Young Old Man to the Old Young Man:
“The cherry-tree’s in flourish!”

Said the Old Young Man to the Young Old Man:
“Alack, and well-a-day!
The world is growing gray:	15
And flower and fruit decay.
Beware, Old Man—beware, Old Man!
For the end of life is nearing;
And the grave yawns by the way …”

Said the Young Old Man to the Old Young Man:	20
“I’m a trifle hard of hearing;
And can’t catch a word you say …
But the cherry-tree’s in flourish!”