It was time for some jollity
He squirted cognac in our tea
And said nothing cheers one up
Like alcohol in a stirrup cup

That’s like rhyming while the empire burns
Or playing bowls among the urns
Containing ashes of the great
Who brought us to our current state

A short term thrill that makes us ill
But we don’t think at first it will
We toast ourselves and try to smile
It always works a little while