<p><SPAN name="HIS_DANCING_DAYS" id="HIS_DANCING_DAYS"></SPAN>HIS DANCING DAYS</p>
<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Never did I find me mate for charmin' an' delightin',</span><br/>
<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Never one that had me bate for courtin' an' for fightin';—</span><br/>
<span style="margin-left: 2em;">(A white moon at the crossroads then, and Denny with the fiddle;</span><br/>
<span style="margin-left: 2em;">The parish round admirin', when I danced down the middle.)</span><br/>
<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Up the earth and down again, me like you'd not discover;</span><br/>
<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Arrah! for the times before me dancin' days were over!</span><br/>
<br/>
<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Never was a moon so low it didn't find me courtin',</span><br/>
<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Never blade I couldn't show a wilder way of sportin'.</span><br/>
<span style="margin-left: 2em;">(Is it at the fair I'd be, the gentry'd troop to talk with me;</span><br/>
<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Leapin' with delight was she,—the girl I'd choose to walk with me.)</span><br/>
<span style="margin-left: 2em;">'Twas I could win the pick of them from any lad or lover;</span><br/>
<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Arrah! for the times before me dancin' days were over!</span><br/>
<br/>
<span style="margin-left: 2em;">What's come to all the lads to-day,—these mournful ways they're keepin',</span><br/>
<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Grudgin' any hour to play and wastin' nights in sleepin'.</span><br/>
<span style="margin-left: 2em;">(Readin' be the chimney-place,—that dacent in their habits,</span><br/>
<span style="margin-left: 2em;">You'd sooner get a fight or song be callin' upon rabbits.)</span><br/>
<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Faith, I'd change the lot for one rejoicin', rantin' rover,</span><br/>
<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><i>The like of me, myself, before me dancin' days were over.</i></span><br/>
<hr style="width: 65%;" />
<div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />