The Firm of Happiness, Limited

Norman Cameron

The Firm of Happiness, Limited was one to astonish the stars,
More like a thriving town than a multiple store--- a hotchpotch
Of markets and playrooms and chapels and brothels and baths and bars,
As smoothly running and closely packed as the works of a watch.

Nobody finally understood the cause of the crash.
Some spoke of Nemesis; others rumoured, vaguely, of course,
That a gang of directors jad simply robbed the firm of its cash,
Or that some ironical Jew was selling it short on the Bourse.

Whatever the reason, the firm of a sudden began to fail.
The floor were undusted at corners, the commissionaries were unshaved,
The girls were anxious and raucous, the comedians' jokes were stale.
The customers noticed the difference---to judge from the way they behaved.

When Happiness closed its doors, the Corporation of the city
Were distressed to see so vast a property left alone
To moulder and waste; in a mingled impulse of thrift and pity
They decided to buy the empty building, and floated a loan.

Now nobody knows what to do with this monstrous hulk we have bought.
At the last Corporation meeting one alderman, half in jest,
Spoke of turning it into a barracks.Meanwhile there's the dreary thought
That we ratepayers have to keep paying the burdensome interest.

幸福有限责任公司

诺尔曼·卡麦隆

幸福有限责任公司震惊星辰，
像百货公司，更像兴旺的城镇－－
集市、游乐、酒吧、妓院、教堂、澡堂无所不包，
排列精密正如钟表运转有条不紊。

对它的倒闭人们始终不懂个中奥妙，
是上天惩罚还是人为灾祸各有传闻；
或者败在卷走资金的领导集团？
或者毁于股市将它抛售的犹太商人？

公司突然开始崩溃，不管是何原因，
管理委员面容不整，地上角落布满灰尘；
不安的小姐声音嘶哑，笑星遭到厌弃，
顾客察觉到这一切变化，不再登门。

公司巨大的资产闲置、发霉，
看到这副景象市政机关实在痛心；
他们决定筹集贷款买下空楼，
既是为了节俭也是出于怜悯。

买下巨大的空楼无人知道如何处理，
用作工棚吧，市政会上议员的玩笑半假半真。
我们这些纳税人还得为它继续支付利息，
想到这一点人人感到非常郁闷。