Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, GAFFER GRAY, by THOMAS HOLCROFT


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

GAFFER GRAY, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Ho! Why dost thou shiver and shake
Last Line: Well-a-day!
Subject(s): Old Age


HO! Why dost thou shiver and shake,
Gaffer Gray?
And why doth thy nose look so blue?
'Tis the weather that's cold;
'Tis I'm grown very old,
And my doublet is not very new,
Well-a-day!'

Then line thy worn doublet with ale,
Gaffer Gray;
And warm thy old heart with a glass.
'Nay but credit I've none;
And my money's all gone;
Then say how may that come to pass?
Well-a-day!'

Hie away to the house on the brow,
Gaffer Gray;
And knock at the jolly priest's door.
'The priest often preaches
Against worldly riches;
But ne'er gives a mite to the poor,
Well-a-day!'

The lawyer lives under the hill,
Gaffer Gray;
Warmly fenced both in back and in front.
'He will fasten his locks,
And will threaten the stocks,
Should he ever more find me in want,
Well-a-day!'

The squire has fat beeves and brown ale,
Gaffer Gray;
And the season will welcome you there.
'His fat beeves and his beer,
And his merry new year,
Are all for the flush and the fair,
Well-a-day!'

My keg is but low I confess,
Gaffer Gray;
What then? While it lasts, man, we'll live.
The poor man alone,
When he hears the poor moan,
Of his morsel a morsel will give,
Well-a-day!





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net