[from Collected Works, T.E.Brown]

THE PESSIMIST

OR

THE RAVEN AND THE JACKDAW

( Manx pronunciation, Jáck-dáw)

" CROAK—croak—croak!
Life’s a pig-in-a-poke."
" Indeed ! " says the little Jackdaw.

" Croak—croak—croak!
And a cruel joke!"
" Dear me ! " says the little Jackdaw.

" Croak—croak—croak!
It’s a tyrant’s yoke !
" How ? " says the little Jackdaw.

" Croak—croak—croak!
We must vanish like smoke."
" Why ? " says the little Jackdaw.

" Croak—croak—croak!
Ask the elm ! ask the oak!"
" What ? " says the little Jackdaw

" Croak—croak—croak!
Your feelings you cloke!"
" Where ? " says the little Jackdaw.

" Croak—croak—croak!
Do you like your own folk?"
" Yes ! " says the little Jackdaw.

" Croak—croak—croak!
With despair don’t you choke ?"
" No ! " says the little Jackdaw.

" Croak—croak—croak!
You’re a d—d little bloke!"
" Always was " says the little Jackdaw.