The Ballade of the Automobile
The
Ballade of the Automobile
When our yacht sails seaward on steady keel
And the wind is moist with the breath of brine
And our laughter tells of oar perfect weal,
We may carol the praises of ruby wine;
But if, automobiling, my woes combine
And fuel gives out in my road-machine
And it's sixteen miles to that home of mine—
Then ho! for a gallon of gasoline!
When our coach rides smoothly on iron-shod wheel
With a deft touch guiding each taut drawn line
And the inn ahead holds a royal meal,
We may carol the praises of ruby wine;
But when, on some long and steep incline,
In a manner entirely unforeseen.
The motor stops with a last sad whine—
Then ho! for a gallon of gasoline!
When the air is crisp and the brooks congeal
And oar sleigh glides on with a speed divine
While the gay bells echo with peal on peal,
We may carol the praises of ruby wine;
But when, with perverseness most condign,
In the same harsh snowstorm, cold and keen,
My auto stops at the six-mile sign—
Then ho! for a gallon of gasoline!
ENVOY
When Yacht or Coach Club fellows dim
We may carol the praises of ruby wine;
But when Automobile Clubmen convene
Then ho! for a gallon of gasoline!
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1929.
The longest-living author of this work died in 1937, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 86 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.
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