Shall I, lying in a grot, br Die because the day is hot? br Or declare I can't endure br Such a torrid temperature? br Be it hotter than the flames br South Gehenna Junction claims, br If it be not so to me, br What care I how hot it be? br br Shall I say I love the town br Praised by Robinson and Browne? br Shall I say, 'In summer heat br Old Manhattan can't be beat?' br Be it luring as a bar, br Or my neighbour's motor-car, br If I think it is pazziz br What care I how fine it is? br br Shall I prate of rural joys br Far from civic smoke and noise? br Shall I, like the others, drool br 'But the nights are always cool?' br If I hate to rise at six br Shall I praise the suburbs? Nix! br If the country's not for me, br What care I how good it be? br br Town or country, cool or hot, br Differs nothing, matters not; br For to quote that Roman cuss, br Why dispute 'de gustibus?' br If to this or that one should br Take a fancy, it is good. br If these rhymes look good to me, br What care I how bad they be?br br Franklin P.