Marjorie Allen Seiffert

A Woman of Thirty Marjorie Allen Seiffert

Doctor: There is an old woman Who ought to die- Deacon: And nobody knows But what she's dead- Doctor: The air will be cleaner When she's gone- Deacon: But we dare not bury her Till she's dead- Landlady: Come, young doctor From the first floor front, Come, dusty deacon, From the fourth floor back, You take her heels And I'll take her head- Doctor and Deacon: We'll carry her And bury her If she's dead! House: They roll her up In her old, red quilt, They carry her down At a horizontal tilt, She doesn't say "Yes" And she doesn't say "No," She doesn't say, "Gentlemen, Where do we go?" Doctor: Out in the lot Where ash-cans die, There, old woman, There shall you lie! Deacon: Let's hurry away And never look behind To see if her eyes Are dead and blind, To see if the quilt Lies over her face- Perhaps she'll groan Or move in her place! House: The room is empty Where the old woman lay, And I no longer Smell like a tomb- Landlady: Doctor, deacon, Can you say Who'll pay rent For the old woman's room?