WHY should not old men be mad? br Some have known a likely lad br That had a sound fly-fisher's wrist br Turn to a drunken journalist; br A girl that knew all Dante once br Live to bear children to a dunce; br A Helen of social welfare dream, br Climb on a wagonette to scream. br Some think it a matter of course that chance br Should starve good men and bad advance, br That if their neighbours figured plain, br As though upon a lighted screen, br No single story would they find br Of an unbroken happy mind, br A finish worthy of the start. br Young men know nothing of this sort, br Observant old men know it well; br And when they know what old books tell br And that no better can be had, br Know why an old man should be mad.