My natal day was yesterday;
   And so I said to Fate,
"What gifts bring you, by one, by two,
   To ease my parlous state?"
"I proffer blindly," Fate replied,
   From chance-found joys and ills.
For you, the 'flu; and this beside,
   A sheaf of monthly bills."
 
My natal day was yesterday;
   And so I said to Chance,
"What gifts bring you, by one, by two,
   My fortunes to enhance?"
Said Chance, "I bring no obvious thing.
   Unguessed escape bring I
From dangers rife alway in life
   That closely pass you by."
 
My natal day was yesterday;
   And so I said to Life,
"What gifts bring you, by one, by two,
   To salve me in the strife?"
But Life said, "Nought.  Long since I brought
   My gifts, glum misanthrope;
And these for you I here renew;
   Myself and human hope."

"Den"
Herald, 9 September 1933