Читать книгу The Lazy Minstrel - Ashby-Sterry Joseph - Страница 9

O, HOLIDAY-MAKERS can rarely be still,

But take superhuman exertions

And make themselves hot and exhausted and ill

To organize horrid "excursions"!

Let those who enjoy it ride out in a "shay" —

Exploring each dell and each dingle —

But let me throw stones in the water all day

And roll on the sand and the shingle!

They think it delightful to walk on the pier,

And try to create a sensation;

When passengers land, looking pallid and queer,

A cause is for great jubilation:

Let lunatics listen to bands when they play,

And nod to their noise and their jingle —

But let me throw stones in the water all day

And roll on the sand and the shingle!

Anemone-hunters roam over the rocks,

All hoping to fish up a tank-full;

They hopelessly ruin their shoes and their socks —

O, why can't they rest and be thankful?

They rave o'er a winkle, a wrass, or a wray,

And sea-weeds that with them commingle —

But let me throw stones in the water all day

And roll on the sand and the shingle!

They fancy 'tis pleasant to go for a sail

With wind in a dubious quarter;

When waves "chop about," and they get very pale,

And up to their knees in the water.

Let maritime maniacs, wetted with spray,

Discourse on a cleat or a cringle —

But let me throw stones in the water all day

And roll on the sand and the shingle!

I'd much rather take a good pull at ozone

Without all this bustle and riot;

If well-meaning friends would but leave me alone,

To bask in the sunshine and quiet.

Such labour as theirs fills my heart with dismay —

The thought of it makes my blood tingle —

So I will throw stones in the water all day

And roll on the sand and the shingle!