There's a race of men that don't fit in,
A race that can't stay still;
So they break the hearts of kith and kin,
And they roam the world at will.
They range the field and they rove the flood,
And they climb the mountain's crest;
Theirs is the curse of the gypsy blood,
And they don't know how to rest.
If they just went straight they might go far;
They are strong and brave and true;
But they're always tired of the things that are,
And they want the strange and new.
They say: "Could I find my proper groove,
What a deep mark I would make!"
So they chop and change, and each fresh move
Is only a fresh mistake.
And each forgets, as he strips and runs
With a brilliant, fitful pace,
It's the steady, quiet, plodding ones
Who win in the lifelong race.
And each forgets that his youth has fled,
Forgets that his prime is past,
Till he stands one day, with a hope that's dead,
In the glare of the truth at last.
He has failed, he has failed; he has missed his chance;
He has just done things by half.
Life's been a jolly good joke on him,
And now is the time to laugh.
Ha, ha! He is one of the Legion Lost;
He was never meant to win;
He's a rolling stone, and it's bred in the bone;
He's a man who won't fit in.
Robert W. Service
Born January 16, 1874
Preston, Lancashire, England
Died September 11, 1958 (aged 84)
Lancieux, CĂ´tes-d'Armor, France
Hippo? Is it really you? We thought you had been abducted by aliens.
ReplyDeleteThis is theatrical and so unlike tom who would have left some sort of postscript ...I don't believe it
DeleteBut Tom has always been "theatrical", John, retelling (I wouldn't even suggest embellishing) his hair raising adventures with such gusto. However, I would say there was an underlying element of melancholy about him. And on having read the poem slowly and several times, it fits him to a tee; albeit a slightly worrying tee. But then Tom has always been self aware; little, if any, bullshitting for him. A free spirit, one of life's good guys. He'd stand on a landmine before he'd let you.
DeleteU
Always liked the poems of Robert Service. Great to hear from you Tom!
ReplyDeleteDitto. Has someone stolen your blog? We have missed you terribly and I can only assume you've been building and caring for your young ones.
ReplyDeleteSuch a wonderful by-line. Welcome back. How I hope you've come to recount the jolly good jokes of the Legion Lost. You may be astounded to see how many of us are in that audience.
ReplyDeleteNot so fast joanne
DeleteWhat a surprise! Good to see you are back! I've missed your posts.
ReplyDeleteI echo thoughts of others - is that really you or have you been hijacked? If so, let us poor morsels know how you and yours are.
ReplyDeleteDitto all the above!
ReplyDeleteHippo!!
ReplyDeleteHey, gimpy, is that really you? You broke in those fancy boots yet? That piece by Mr Service sounds a bit ominous. How about some clarification on what has happened with you over the last couple years while you have been MIA, you know, for us low brow pedestrians that are not conversant in fancy literature.
ReplyDeleteWell Hello Hippo ! It's nice to hear rom you if only by way of this slightly ominous poem. ( I like it very much by the way )
ReplyDeleteHope Marcia and the children are OK and you are too. Please just drop us a line to let us know.
Hey Tom! Glad to see you back from Yoghurt Knitter no.1!
ReplyDeleteFuck me... I've emailed u , worried about you and guessed what happened about you and u never replied is this u?
ReplyDeleteForgive me but I am wondering that it isn't ?
If it is ..you are a shit.....a shit I missed ...but a fucking shit
Please answer
If it isn't you ....fuck u!
ReplyDeleteLanguage, this is a family blog...
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI hope this is Tom, but I'm afraid to believe it.
ReplyDeleteYes, I am back. But just don't ask...
ReplyDeleteTom, what a befitting way to start the Year of the Dog.
DeleteDelighted,
U
Good poem.
ReplyDeleteI’m so happy you’re back, I hope Marcia, Alex, Dom, and little lady Charlie ( I hope the names are right ) and of course yourself are well ..you’ve been missed ..
ReplyDeleteAre you back?
ReplyDeleteI wasn't a reader of your blog before but more than one of the blogs I follow now are very happy to see you posting again. Welcome back, life should be chronicled.
ReplyDelete