O WHAT A LUXURY
Saturday, June 5, 1999
Listen

O WHAT A LUXURY

O what a luxury it be
how exquisite, what perfect bliss
so ordinary and yet chic
to pee to piss to take a leak

to feel your bladder just go free
and open up the Mighty Miss
and all your cares float down the creek
to pee to piss to take a leak

for gentlemen of great physique
who can hold water for one week
for ladies who one-quarter cup
of tea can fill completely up
for folks in urinalysis
for Viennese and Greek and Swiss
for little kids just learning this
for everyone it's pretty great
to urinate

of course for men it's much more grand
women sit or squat
we stand
and hold the fellow in our hand
and proudly watch the mighty arc
adjust the range and make our mark
on stones or post for rival men
to smell and not come back again

women are so circumspect
but men can piss to great effect
with terrible hydraulic force
can make a stream or change its course

can put out fires or cigarettes
and sometimes
laying down our bets
late at night outside the
bars
we like to aim up at the stars

(c) 1999 by Garrison Keillor