The Simple Way

The Simple Way

The Simple Way

John Lea

John Lea

John Lea

John Lea

Said Mr. Wise: “I’m one of thoseWho think a short and pleasant dozeWill aid in solving, yea or nay,Such problems as perplex the day.”So, sitting in a comfy chair,He stretched his slippers, then and there,Toward the fire that glowed and leapt,And very soon he soundly slept.He soundly slept, or so he thinks,For little more than forty winks,Then rose with more than common mightAnd went and set the world aright.To each expectant boy he showedThe shortest and the straightest roadThat leads to fortune and to fameFor those who like to play the game.To all the girls he made it clearHow smiles and patience grace the year,And how a placid mind will foilThe wear and tear of daily toil.He settled in the smartest wayThe hottest questions of the day,And, by a magic mode of thought,So deftly on opinion wrought,That politicians failed to seeWhy they should longer disagree,And forthwith formed, by joint consent,Oneparty in our parliament.In short, his triumphs were so brightWhile setting all the world aright,That when he waked, ’twas sorrow deepTo find the labours of his sleepHad failed the slightest mark to makeUpon the world he’d left awake.

Said Mr. Wise: “I’m one of thoseWho think a short and pleasant dozeWill aid in solving, yea or nay,Such problems as perplex the day.”So, sitting in a comfy chair,He stretched his slippers, then and there,Toward the fire that glowed and leapt,And very soon he soundly slept.He soundly slept, or so he thinks,For little more than forty winks,Then rose with more than common mightAnd went and set the world aright.To each expectant boy he showedThe shortest and the straightest roadThat leads to fortune and to fameFor those who like to play the game.To all the girls he made it clearHow smiles and patience grace the year,And how a placid mind will foilThe wear and tear of daily toil.He settled in the smartest wayThe hottest questions of the day,And, by a magic mode of thought,So deftly on opinion wrought,That politicians failed to seeWhy they should longer disagree,And forthwith formed, by joint consent,Oneparty in our parliament.In short, his triumphs were so brightWhile setting all the world aright,That when he waked, ’twas sorrow deepTo find the labours of his sleepHad failed the slightest mark to makeUpon the world he’d left awake.

Said Mr. Wise: “I’m one of thoseWho think a short and pleasant dozeWill aid in solving, yea or nay,Such problems as perplex the day.”

Said Mr. Wise: “I’m one of those

Who think a short and pleasant doze

Will aid in solving, yea or nay,

Such problems as perplex the day.”

So, sitting in a comfy chair,He stretched his slippers, then and there,Toward the fire that glowed and leapt,And very soon he soundly slept.

So, sitting in a comfy chair,

He stretched his slippers, then and there,

Toward the fire that glowed and leapt,

And very soon he soundly slept.

He soundly slept, or so he thinks,For little more than forty winks,Then rose with more than common mightAnd went and set the world aright.

He soundly slept, or so he thinks,

For little more than forty winks,

Then rose with more than common might

And went and set the world aright.

To each expectant boy he showedThe shortest and the straightest roadThat leads to fortune and to fameFor those who like to play the game.

To each expectant boy he showed

The shortest and the straightest road

That leads to fortune and to fame

For those who like to play the game.

To all the girls he made it clearHow smiles and patience grace the year,And how a placid mind will foilThe wear and tear of daily toil.

To all the girls he made it clear

How smiles and patience grace the year,

And how a placid mind will foil

The wear and tear of daily toil.

He settled in the smartest wayThe hottest questions of the day,And, by a magic mode of thought,So deftly on opinion wrought,That politicians failed to seeWhy they should longer disagree,And forthwith formed, by joint consent,Oneparty in our parliament.

He settled in the smartest way

The hottest questions of the day,

And, by a magic mode of thought,

So deftly on opinion wrought,

That politicians failed to see

Why they should longer disagree,

And forthwith formed, by joint consent,

Oneparty in our parliament.

In short, his triumphs were so brightWhile setting all the world aright,That when he waked, ’twas sorrow deepTo find the labours of his sleepHad failed the slightest mark to makeUpon the world he’d left awake.

In short, his triumphs were so bright

While setting all the world aright,

That when he waked, ’twas sorrow deep

To find the labours of his sleep

Had failed the slightest mark to make

Upon the world he’d left awake.


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