When Your Time Is Up
The horse and mule live 30 years
And nothing known of wines and beers.
The goat and sheep at 20 die
And never taste of Scotch or Rye.
The cow drinks water by the ton
And at 18 is mostly done.
The dog at 15 cashes in
Without the aid of rum and gin.
The cat in milk and water soaks
And then in 12 short years it croaks.
The modest, sober, bone-dry hen
Lays eggs for nogs, then dies at 10.
All animals are strictly 'dry':
They sinless live and swiftly die;
But sinful, ginful, rum-soaked men "
Survive for three score years and ten.
And some of them, a very few,
Stay pickled till they're 92.
