Blasted Hopes

For twenty years I’ve labored hard

     And stuck to my position;

I’ve labored long to realize

     My one life’s great ambition.

Which was to get a bit of wealth –

     I’ve e’en denied me pleasure,

And then to buy a tall silk hat,

     And wear it at my leisure.

But I am disappointed quite,

     My hope but rose to shatter;

And all because of prophesies

     Of Geldt, the Paris hatter.

I have the wealth, but what of that?

     I can be happy never;

Geldt says the silk hat very soon

     Will disappear forever!

April 8, ‘09

                                     

                                                                            Chicago Livestock World, 17 April 1909
                                                                         http://idnc.library.illinois.edu/cgi-bin/illinois?a=d&d=CLW19090417.2.76#