Thursday, July 08, 2010
An Unexpected Visit
James Henry (1798-1876), A Half-Year's Poems (Dresden: C.C. Meinhold and Sons, 1854), p. 57:
Thomas Patch (1725-1782), Sterne and Death
Newer› ‹Older
"Doctor, when will you at home be?"Line 3: Besides being a poet and classical scholar, James Henry was also a medical doctor.
Death, one morning, thus said to me,
As I met him at a patient's —
Death and I are old acquaintance —
"I've been thinking to call on you,
But don't wish to interrupt you
In your pleasure or your business;
Say the hour that's most convenient."
"As you're so good, Death," I answered,
"Every hour to me the same is;
A friend's visit's always welcome,
Sunday, weekday, night or morning.
"But if I might make so free, Death,
I'd just beg one favor of you;
Drop in on me unexpected,
I hate ceremonious visits.
"Come to me as friend to friend comes,
On a sudden, when least thought of;
Pipes and grog are always ready,
And the matches on the table.
"Drinking, smoking, we will sit, Death,
Tête-à-tête till we grow hearty;
Then for any spree you like best,
Out we'll sally on the batter."
