I

Who would care to pass his life away
Of the Lotos-land a dreamful denizen —
Lotos-islands in a waveless bay,
Sung by Alfred Tennyson?

II

Who would care to be a dull new-comer
Far across the wild sea's wide abysses,
Where, about the earth's 3000th summer
Passed divine Ulysses?

III

Rather give me coffee, art, a book,
From my windows a delicious sea-view,
Southdown mutton, somebody to cook —
" Music?" I believe you.

IV

Strawberry icebergs in the summer time —
But of elmwood many a massive splinter,
Good ghost stories, and a classic rhyme,
For the nights of winter.

V

Now and then a friend and some sauterne,
Now and then a haunch of Highland venison:
And for Lotos-lands I'll never yearn
Maugre Alfred Tennyson.