It has been discovered that a number of drinking men intend to vote dry at the forthcoming liquor poll, while many teetotallers are voting against No-Licence.
If one should say: "For many a day
From alcohol I abstained
Because I think, in taking drink,
For me, there's nothing to be gained."
And if he say: "Tho' others may
Indulge in liquor now and then,
And find it good; think not I should
Hold liberty from other men."
The chosen plan of such a man
I find not hard to comprehend.
He may give up, himself, the cup,
Yet not deny it to a friend.
No Pharisee to scold and fret
I find in him, nor wonder why
A man, politically wet,
May still be personally dry.
But if one say: "Take drink away!
For, lo, my brother is a sot!
Tho', for myself I keep a shelf
Within my cupboard for a 'spot.'
"For I am strong. I see no wrong
In holding from another's reach
This baneful stuff. While I've enough
Why should I practise what I preach?"
Such man I cannot understand,
Now what his aim, nor what his end,
Who for himself one law has planned,
But quite another for his friend.
May be that I am dull; but I
Have never comprehended yet
How one, politically dry,
Can still be personally wet.
First published in The Herald, 26 March 1930
Author reference sites: C.J. Dennis, Austlit, Australian Dictionary of Biography, Australian Poetry Library
See also.
If one should say: "For many a day
From alcohol I abstained
Because I think, in taking drink,
For me, there's nothing to be gained."
And if he say: "Tho' others may
Indulge in liquor now and then,
And find it good; think not I should
Hold liberty from other men."
The chosen plan of such a man
I find not hard to comprehend.
He may give up, himself, the cup,
Yet not deny it to a friend.
No Pharisee to scold and fret
I find in him, nor wonder why
A man, politically wet,
May still be personally dry.
But if one say: "Take drink away!
For, lo, my brother is a sot!
Tho', for myself I keep a shelf
Within my cupboard for a 'spot.'
"For I am strong. I see no wrong
In holding from another's reach
This baneful stuff. While I've enough
Why should I practise what I preach?"
Such man I cannot understand,
Now what his aim, nor what his end,
Who for himself one law has planned,
But quite another for his friend.
May be that I am dull; but I
Have never comprehended yet
How one, politically dry,
Can still be personally wet.
First published in The Herald, 26 March 1930
Author reference sites: C.J. Dennis, Austlit, Australian Dictionary of Biography, Australian Poetry Library
See also.
