A Bachelor's Lament

The noise! All that wonderful noise! The hollers and wails, the giggles and laughs. The house-shaking clamor of girls and boys! But I to my old empty house must return, To an empty old bed in a big empty room, To a big empty silence, all frigid and stern. Wouldn't I make a fine father? I love old those storybooks more the kids! I'd read them all night, one after another 'Til they sleep, 'til they go wherever kids go. When the day's all done and rest makes its claim On them and on me ... I'll follow, I know ... It's a problem of course, a bachelor's lament. The young ones asleep with their parents at home While I dream alone: fore'er alone it's not meant.