William Henry Davies

The Muse

The Collected Poems of William H. Davies

I have no ale,

No wine I want;

No ornaments,

My meat is scant,

 

No maid is near,

I have no wile;

But here’s my pipe

And, on my life:

 

With it to smoke,

And woo the Muse,

To be a king

I would not choose.

 

But I crave all,

When she does fail—

Wife, ornaments,

Meat, wine and ale.