We drink a toast to your fair-haired girl,
But we drink again to the dark-tressed maid.
For you there is charm in a golden curl,
But for us there's a magic in either shade.
We drink again to your horse that's grey,
But we drink again to the steed that's black;
And our hearts go out to the brown and bay,
And the chestnut, too, when he heads the track.
No fault we find with the grey or gold,
Of either sort there are good and bad.
So to each good horse here's a rider bold:
And to each kind lass here's a lively lad.
First published in The Bulletin, 8 July 1899
