_____ LONGEVITY _____

The horse and mule live thirty years, 

And nothing know of wines and beers.

The goat and sheep at twenty die, 

and never taste of scotch or rye.

Cows drink water by the ton, 

and by eighteen, they're mostly done.

The dog at fifteen cashes in, 

without the aid of rum and gin.

 The cat in milk and water soaks, 

And then in twelve short years it croaks.

The modest, sober, bone-dry hen 

Lays eggs for nogs, then dies at ten.

All animals are strictly dry; 

They sinless live and sinless die.

But sinful, ginful, rum-soaked men 

Survive for three score years and ten.

 And some of them, though very few, 

Stay drunk yet live past ninety-two!

- Anonymous