here, songs were sung,
and tales were told,
and young brains thought
of journeys bold;
but those young brains
grew old, and then
fell into dissolution -

for new days will
be old one day:
so sing your songs,
and have your say --
for "these" days will
be "those", and then
our fateful diminution

      so while you yet have muster,
      keep on soldiering --
      ere you're an empty house
      alone and
      moldering