Poem by Kushwant Singh

*A poem by Khuswant Singh at 92!*

*The horse and the mule live for 30 years, And know nothing of wines and beers;*

*The goat and sheep at 20 die, And never get a taste of Scotch and rye.*

*The cow drinks water by the tonne, And at 18 is mostly done, Without the aid of gin and rum.*

*The cat in milk and water soaks, And then in 12 short years it croaks.*

*The modest, sober, bone-dry hen, Lays eggs for others, then dies at 10.*

*All animals are strictly dry, They sinless live and swiftly die.*

*But sinful, ginful, rum-soaked men, Survive for three score years and ten,*

*And some of them, though very few, Stay pickled till they’re 92!*

*So shed a tear, drink a beer, Celebrate the past, toast the future and have a Happy New Year !*