Every soldier moaned his bride
who was not there to see.
The road was long but not too wide
that led back home to me.

I went to Middle Age one day
and hated what I saw,
and so I vowed to stay away
and older grow no more.

I journeyed back to Youthfulness
where everyone abides
and realised I liked it less
that Caesar likes the Ides.

To Old Age then I sallied forth
but Sally wasn’t there
and so I took the homeward path
and grateful gasps of air.

The road was many fortnights long.
It led into a mist
from which there came a drunken song
then several soldiers, pissed.

And every soldier sang his song
all in a drunken spree.
The road was many fortnights long
that led back home to me.