The Jolly God

A jolly God is He who made

The absurd ducks that quack and wade,

The thrush whose voice is much too small

For his plump bosom's rise and fall,

And the sly lads who knock at doors,

And babies tumbling on all fours,

And toffee-shops, and hawthorn-buds,

And cows that chew eternal cuds,

And swaggering boys at school who smoke

Stolen cigars and duly choke,

And purple vetch and cuckoo-flower,

And new-laid eggs and Magdalen Tower.

He is a jolly God to make

Such things for our unworthy sake.

And if He makes, as well as these,

The jagged germs that bring disease,

And paid critics who sniff and prowl, :

And carrion fleas and carrion fowl,

And business chiefs in tall silk-hats,

And men who disembowel cats,

And crooked souls which will not fit

-That's the other side to it.