Classic Poem

They learned first how to handle a rifle
and went into the woods
for squirrel and pheasant
and hooked bait
with the care of a paleontologist.

At night they sat with whisky
and said to a companion,
" Let's get drunk, "
and the answer came back,
" All right "

When they went to war and were afraid
and got shot up
and found a girl and had a family

or shot lion and climbed Kilimanjaro
and pursued the dark Iberian
gored
who sighted with his sword
the place of death
behind the bull's neck
and went in over the horns,
holding back nothing,
all they had to say was,
" It's good
when the fall rains come, "
and the answer was,
" Swell. "

Will there be no more larks
or Cezanne apples?