HIGHLY DESIRABLE by Edward Dyson

The boarder in the bar-room rose,
   A pale gaunt man who lodged with Hann,
“I bear,” he said, “the worst of woes,
And suffer torments no one knows,
   For do my best I never can
   Have sleep like any other man.


“I have insomnia,” said he.
   “At times it drives me mad outright.
Whate’er I do, where’er I be,
Its just the same – so sleep for me.
   You won’t believe for three years quite
   I haven’t slept two hours a night.”


Boss-cocky Billson softly swore,
   And turning from his chestnut cob.
“What’s that?” he questioned from the door.
“You say that you don’t sleep no more
   Than two hours?  I pay thirty bob.
   Now, mister, do you want a job?”