THE JOY OF CREATION By T B Lewis

[Stanley]

THE JOY OF CREATION
[By T B Lewis. Who was a Lancashire cotton-spinner]


A rich old cotton-spinner (once a weaver) said:
"You lads will have my brass to hold and to enjoy.
You'll smoke the big cigars, you'll drink white wine and red.
You'll give your wives rich furs and jewels, you'll employ
Expensive tailors and you'll dress like a lord's son.
You'll ride and shoot and squander money without end,

But you will never have one hundredth part the fun
In spending that I had in making what you spend."

I hope that while I live and after I am dead
Someone will read what I have written, but I fear
No one will get as much from these my verses read
As I rehearsing them in my wife's partial ear.