| Walter Murdoch (1874–1970). The Oxford Book of Australasian Verse. 1918. |
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| 58. Twenty Gallons of Sleep |
| | | By Agnes L. Storrie |
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| MEASURE me out from the fathomless tun | |
| That somewhere or other you keep | |
| In your vasty cellars, O wealthy one, | |
| Twenty gallons of sleep. | |
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| Twenty gallons of balmy sleep, | 5 |
| Dreamless, and deep, and mild, | |
| Of the excellent brand you used to keep | |
| When I was a little child. | |
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| I’ve tasted of all your vaunted stock, | |
| Your clarets and ports of Spain, | 10 |
| The liquid gold of your famous hock, | |
| And your matchless dry champagne. | |
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| Of your rich muscats and your sherries fine, | |
| I’ve drunk both well and deep; | |
| Then measure me out, O merchant mine, | 15 |
| Twenty gallons of sleep. | |
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| Twenty gallons of slumber soft, | |
| Of the innocent, baby kind, | |
| When the angels flutter their wings aloft | |
| And the pillow with down is lined. | 20 |
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| I have drawn the corks, and drained the lees, | |
| Of every vintage pressed; | |
| If I’ve felt the sting of my honey bees, | |
| I’ve taken it with the rest. | |
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| I have lived my life, and I’ll not repine; | 25 |
| As I sowed I was bound to reap; | |
| Then measure me out, O merchant mine, | |
| Twenty gallons of sleep. | |
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