[SC_NEWS] May 12th

[Ian Dickerson]

By way of celebrating what would have been Leslie's 99th birthday today 
I thought I'd post this, a poem he wrote called "The Ballade of a 
Septuagenarian".

Ian

***

It seems an idiocy sublime
that we poor sprigs of Adam's breed
take half our lives to reach our prime
and spend the next half going to seed;
but somehow, it has been decreed,
Man's years are rationed to three score
and ten -- which mine right now exceed.
I could enjoy a few years more.

I can still chisel out a rhyme;
I still have countless books to read.
Show me a clock: I'll tell the time
at half a mile. And you don't need
to shout at me to make me heed.
I stride as briskly as of yore,
I eat with gusto but not greed:

I could enjoy a few years more.
I may no more seek trees to climb
or yearn to mount a fiery steed,
but pleasure's in whatever I'm
enjoying doing, not the deed.
I've no infirmity to plead
save finding pompous twits a bore:
while wit and reflex keep their speed,
I could enjoy a few years more.

L'envoi
Dear God: unless you badly need
my help with some supernal chore,
though in the end I must concede,
I could enjoy a few years more.