[CW] Robert Service (better format)

[Radio K0HB]

The Telegraph Operator

by Robert W. Service


 I will not wash my face;
   I will not brush my hair;
  I "pig" around the place--
   There's nobody to care.
  Nothing but rock and tree;
   Nothing but wood and stone,
  Oh, God, it's hell to be
   Alone, alone, alone!

  Snow-peaks and deep-gashed draws
   Corral me in a ring.
  I feel as if I was
   The only living thing
  On all this blighted earth;
   And so I frowst and shrink,
  And crouching by my hearth
   I hear the thoughts I think.

  I think of all I miss--
   The boys I used to know;
  The girls I used to kiss;
   The coin I used to blow:
  The bars I used to haunt;
   The racket and the row;
  The beers I didn't want
   (I wish I had 'em now).

  Day after day the same,
   Only a little worse;
  No one to grouch or blame--
   Oh, for a loving curse!
  Oh, in the night I fear,
   Haunted by nameless things,
  Just for a voice to cheer,
   Just for a hand that clings!

  Faintly as from a star
   Voices come o'er the line;
  Voices of ghosts afar,
   Not in this world of mine;
  Lives in whose loom I grope;
   Words in whose weft I hear
  Eager the thrill of hope,
   Awful the chill of fear.

  I'm thinking out aloud;
   I reckon that is bad;
  (The snow is like a shroud)--
   Maybe I'm going mad.
  Say! wouldn't that be tough?
   This awful hush that hugs
  And chokes one is enough
   To make a man go "bugs".

  There's not a thing to do;
   I cannot sleep at night;
  No wonder I'm so blue;
   Oh, for a friendly fight!
  The din and rush of strife;
   A music-hall aglow;
  A crowd, a city, life--
   Dear God, I miss it so!

  Here, you have moped enough!
   Brace up and play the game!
  But say, it's awful tough--
   Day after day the same
  (I've said that twice, I bet).
   Well, there's not much to say.
  I wish I had a pet,
   Or something I could play.

  Cheer up! don't get so glum
   And sick of everything;
  The worst is yet to come;
   God help you till the Spring.
  God shield you from the Fear;
   Teach you to laugh, not moan.
  Ha! ha! it sounds so queer--
   Alone, alone, alone!


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Sea stories at --------> http://k0hb.wordpress.com
Superstition trails ---> http://oldslowhans.wordpress.com