Immortality

Robert William Service

Full well I trow that when I die
         Down drops the curtain;
Another show is all my eye
         And Betty Martin.
I know the score, and with a smile
         Of rueful rating,
I reckon I am not worth while
         Perpetuating.

I hope that God,—if God there be
         Of love and glory,
Will let me off Eternity,
         And end my story.
Will count me just a worn-out bit
         Of human matter,
Who’s done his job or bungled it,
        —More like the latter.

I did not beg for mortal breath,
         Plus hell or Heaven;
So let the last pay-off be death,
         And call it even.
To Nature I will pay my debt
         With stoic laughter:
But spare me, God, your awful threat
         Of Life Here-after!

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