You dare, indeed, to ask me that?
Bold and relentless, say I, "No, sir!"

You who bring some one else's tea
To us, while ours goes to the neighbours,
And yet you dare demand from me
Reward for inefficient labours!

You who but lately made me hit
My head upon the dum-dum waiter--
From me you get no silver bit.
Fie, out upon you, youthful traitor!

Hard is my heart and tight my purse;
Deaf is my ear to all your suing.
Except this little bit of verse,
There's absolutely nothing doing.


II

TO THE JANITOR


Sullen, surly Scandinave,
Smoking on a pipe,
Valiantly I cast the glave
At thee and thy type.

Person of the shakeless grouch