• How It Goes

    From The Detroit Times, January 23, 1914. By Berton Braley.

    I go to the bank and I draw a check
        And think I have money to last awhile,
    But my hopes all crash in a total wreck
        As money melts in the swiftest style,
    For somebody borrows a yen or two
        And somebody comes with last year’s bill,
    Or my clothes wear out or the rent comes due
        And leaves me nary a single mill.

    When somebody pays for the work I’ve done
        I grin and chuckle with soul care-free,
    “Well, now I’ll certainly have some fun—“
        But somebody comes with a C. O. D.;
    Or if a saving account I crave
        And plan on watching the roll grow fat,
    The whole amount that I meant to save
        Must pay insurance—or things like that!

    They’re always waiting to grab my roll;
        I never manage to get ahead;
    I’m either paying for this year’s coal
        Or last year’s horse—which is cold and dead;
    Coin never lasts as I thought it would,
        It always goes at the least excuse;
    It never does me a bit of good;
        I try to save it—but what’s the use!