Rio Grande's Last Race, and Other Verses

Any Other Time

  All of us play our very best game —
   Any other time.
  Golf or billiards, it's all the same —
   Any other time.
  Lose a match and you always say,
  'Just my luck!  I was 'off' to-day!
  I could have beaten him quite half-way —
   Any other time!'

  After a fiver you ought to go —
   Any other time.
  Every man that you ask says 'Oh,
   Any OTHER time.
  Lend you a fiver!  I'd lend you two,
  But I'm overdrawn and my bills are due,
  Wish you'd ask me — now, mind you do —
   Any other time!'

  Fellows will ask you out to dine —
   Any other time.
  'Not to-night, for we're twenty-nine —
   Any other time.
  Not to-morrow, for cook's on strike,
  Not next day, I'll be out on the bike —
  Just drop in whenever you like —
   Any other time!'

  Seasick passengers like the sea —
   Any other time.
  'Something . . I ate . . disagreed . . with me!
   Any other time
  Ocean-trav'lling is . . simply bliss,
  Must be my . . liver . . has gone amiss . .
  Why, I would . . laugh . . at a sea . . like this —
   Any other time.'

       .    .    .    .    .

  Most of us mean to be better men —
   Any other time:
  Regular upright characters then —
   Any other time.
  Yet somehow as the years go by
  Still we gamble and drink and lie,
  When it comes to the last we'll want to die —
   Any other time!