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.