The Bachelor’s Reverie

“Thanksgiving’s here again, and I

     Am-here-again-alone;

Within the embers glowing lie,

     Without the breezes moan.

I pull my pipe and try to draw

     Some comfort from its smoke;

But singleness this time of year

     Is far from any joke.

“There’s Brown, the last but me to wed,

     A wife, and children three;

Old Brown, five mouths for him to feed,

     And only one for me.

Ah, well, I’ll not complain; to wed

     Just keeps a fellow down;

The bell! What’s this – a note you say?

     An invite come from Brown!

Sept. 7, 1903