Classic Poem

O saepe mecum tempus in ultimum

O thou with whom so oft at 12.15,
 I've spoiled the porter's beauty-sleep (or later),
Thrice welcome, welcome back, whitewashed and clean,
To Alma Mater!

Sole witness of my break of forty-nine!
 How well we made the drowsy hours to jig,
All drenched with frequent sodas at the sign
Of the Blue Pig!

With thee I shared the Fifth, that final rag,
 And lost ingloriously my tattered gown,
What time my forehead bit a paving-flag
In Sturton Town.

Me blessed Mercury, shaped like a hansom,
 Bore through a sultry atmosphere of brick;
For thee, O thee, another kind of ransom
Was waiting, Dick!

Chased into Andrew Street's absorbing gutter,
 Thou by the Proctor's pack waste fairly baited,
Haled to that hardy sportsman on a shutter
And rusticated.

So welcome back from rural contemplation!
 And here's health to those that bring thee back!
The Dons!—we'll pour a Lethe of libations
In Miller's sack!

Pass round the loving cup! a long, strong pull!
 Unguents are off and wreaths are run to seed;
Instead about our lips shall curl the full
And fragrant weed.

What choice for dissipation? Dick, old man,
 At this auspicious hour 'tis thine to choose;
Loo? then to-night we'll linger longer than
At former Loos!