I Once Had Greyhounds

I once had greyhounds many years ago But I grew poorer as my dogs ran slow My losers many and my winners few And I cut my losses what else might I do? . In greyhound World I never knew renown The dogs I could not sell I had put down My fastest dogs were only second grade One ought to learn from mistakes he has made. But now I have a sadder tale to tell For years I have been writing doggerel I once had visions I might be a poet But doggerel the only thing I've wrote. Those who know best the poetry critics say That poets use words in every different way And that poets are born and that poets are never made And that one can never learn the wordsmith trade. For years I have been writing doggerel rhyme And most may see that as a waste of time Still I don't feel unhappy none the less And why worry if I never knew success. And since doggerel is all I've ever wrote I never could lay claim to be a poet But to be a poet at least I had a try And things of beauty I too can enjoy. And I feel joy when pretty things I see Like pink flowers on the green camellia tree And eastern rosella chirping in sunlight A thing of beauty makes a pleasant sight. And pleasant memories with me long remain Like scent of blooming roses after rain Or song of shrike thrush in the early Spring The bird has flown 'I still can hear her sing'. I once had greyhounds many years ago And I grew poorer as my dogs ran slow But now I have a sadder tale to tell For years I have been writing doggerel.