From The Detroit Times, October 1, 1913. By Berton Braley.
If I had saved each penny
Which foolishly I spent,
I’d doubtless now have many
To keep me well content.
If I had thought and pondered
About each single sou,
I doubtless would have squandered
At most a very few.
But while the cash was clinking
Within my portly purse
I spent it without thinking
For better or for worse,
And now I’m pretty seedy
And badly out at heels.
In fact, I’m broke and needy
And ravenous for meals.
Ah, me, I’ve been a dancer
To all the pipes they played,
And—well, you see the answer
Before you here displayed;
The primrose path is sunny,
But I am broke and done;
I should have saved the money—
But I’d have missed the fun.