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Extended on the Margate shore |
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(A lazy fit had bound me), |
I fell a-moralizing o'er |
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The snobs I saw around me. |
They buy unholy suits of clothes, |
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And every day they don them, |
Their speech is crapulous with oaths. |
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But still the sun shines on them'. |
They bawl and holloa, scream and shout, |
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Some source of joy they find it — |
And though they leave their "h's" out |
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The sea don't seem to mind it! |
They spit, and smoke tobacco rank., |
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And live incontinently, |
And though they look as if they drank — |
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The sea air fans them gently! |
The words with which themselves they pledge |
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Cause decent ears to tingle; |
But though it sets one's teeth on edge, |
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It don't offend the shingle! |
Their showy clothes are slopped with mire, |
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Their paws with filth encrusted — |
I wonder Nature don't retire |
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From public life disgusted. |
The sun shines on, the breezes blow, |
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When shops and counters free them — |
The waves dance gaily to and fro, |
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And seem quite glad to see them! |
Oh, sun and breeze and dancing trees, |
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In one commingling blended, |
You are not difficult to please — |
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Not easily offended. |
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