Only one game of Snookers

Civil & Military Gazette (Lahore), Thursday 06 November 1890

ONLY

(By Samson)

Only a farewell dinner;

Quite an informal spread;

Only one game of Snookers,

And quietly off to bed

Only one more ‘chota whisky’

Last night, old chap, don’t you know,

Bearer ek peg in do tamblet.

Brought it? Then Sahib ko do.

Only the game getting wilder;

Fearful and wonderfoul play.

Chalk your cue not the ball, old fellow;

In off the black! That’s the way.

Only another to steady you,

You must have one with me;

That stroke was rather shaky,

How many balls did you see?

Only one in the morning.

Far too early to go!

Which of you fellow says supper,

Sandbeefs and pati or so?

Only American cockfights

All over the drawing room floor;

Only the guest of the evening

Sending his foot through the door.

Only some men departing

Home through the morning air,

Wondering where they usually live,

And how the deuce they’ll get there.

Only a few of them sleeping

Peacefully on the floor,

With hats tucked under the bed clothes,

And boots hung behind the door.

Only same worms next morning

(Can a worm have a beastly head?)

Only red herrings for breakfast,

And breakfast taken in bed.

Only a farewell dinner.

Quite an informal spread

But, oh, the effects next morning;

Great Scot; I wish I were dead.