Sweet Briars of the Stairways

We are happy all the time         Even when we fight:         Sweet briars of the stairways,         Gay fairies of the grime;         WE, WHO ARE PLAYING TO-NIGHT.         "Our feet are in the gutters,         Our eyes are sore with dust,         But still our eyes are bright.         The wide street roars and mutters -         We know it works because it must -         WE, WHO ARE PLAYING TO-NIGHT!         "Dirt is everlasting. -    We never, never fear it.         Toil is never ceasing. -    We will play until we near it.         Tears are never ending. -    When once real tears have come;         "When we see our people as they are -         Our fathers - broken, dumb -         Our mothers - broken, dumb -         The weariest of women and of men;         Ah - then our eyes will lose their light -         Then we will never play again -                 WE, WHO ARE PLAYING TO-NIGHT."