A Bachelor--Robert Service (1874-1958)

A Bachelor

‘Why keep a cow when I can buy,’
          Said he, ‘the milk I need,’
I wanted to spit in his eye
          Of selfishness and greed;
But did not, for the reason he
          Was stronger than I be.

I told him: ‘’Tis our human fate,
          For better or for worse,
That man and maid should love and mate,
          And little children nurse.
Of course, if you are less than man
          You can’t do what we can.

‘So many loving maids would wed,
          And wondrous mothers be.’
‘I’ll buy the love I want,’ he said,
          ‘No squally brats for me.’
. . . I hope the devil stoketh well
          For him a special hell.