Kg N Who Recessional and Other Poems
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KG! N W HO REC ESSIO N A L A N D O T HER PO EMS. RE E NAL C S S IO . A ! ICTORIA N ODE OD of our fathers , known of old Lord of our far- flung battle line Beneath wh ose awful hand we hold m il Dominion over palm an d pine ! God §Lord of Hosts , be with us yet , — ! ! Lest we forget lest we forget iThe tumult and the shouting dies 3s The Captains and the Kings depart Still h ag stands T ine ancient sacrifice , An r humble and a contrite hea t . Lord G od é of Hosts , be with us yet, gfiest we forget— lest we forget ! v8 - Far called , our navies melt away On dune and headland sinks the fire Lo l , all our pomp of yesterday Is on e with Nineveh and Tyre ! a u d e N et j g of the ations , spare us y , N ‘" g‘ est we forget— lest we forget ! 5 t RE CE S S IONAL . o I f, drunk with sight of power , we lo se Wild tongues that have n ot Thee in awe S G uch boasting as the entiles use , O r lesser breedswithout the Law G od Lord of Hosts , be with us yet , Lest we forget— lest we forget ! For heathen heart that puts her trust In reeking tube and iron shard All valiant dust that builds on dust , A n d guarding calls not Thee to guard For frantic boast and foolish word, e P ! Thy M rcy on Thy eople, Lord Amen , E AMPIRE TH ! . 7 THE ! AM PIRE msSUGGES T ED B Y T HE . PAIN TIN G B Y PH ILIP B U RN E-J ON ES FOOL there was and he made his prayer ! Even as you and I ! ! To a rag and a bone and a hank of hair ! We called her the woman who did not care ! , But the fool he called her his lady fair ! Even as you and I ! ! Oh the years we waste and the tears we waste An d the work of our head and hand Belong to the woman who did not know ! An d now we know ! that she never could know ! An d d did not un erstand . A fool there was and his goods he Spent ! Even as you and I ! ! Honour and faith and a sure intent ’ And ! it wasn t the least what the lady meant! , But afool must follow his natural bent ! Even as you and I ! ! 8 THE ! AMPIRE . Oh the toil we lost and the spoil we lost A n d the excellent things we planned Belong to the woman who didn ’ t know why ! An d now we know she never knew why! An d did not understand . The fool was stripped to his foolish hide ! Even as you and I ! ! Which she might have seen when she threw him aside ! But it is ’ nt on record the lady tried! So some of him lived but the most of him died ! Even as you and I ! ! ’ ’ An d it is n t the shame and it is n t the blame - That stings like a white hot brand . It ’ scoming to know that she never knew why ! Seeing at last she could never know Why! And never could understand . ANN Y DEE ! ER D . 9 DANNY DEE! ER ’ ” HAT are the bugles blowin for ! said W -on - Files Parade . To turn you out , to turn you out , the Col our- e S rgeant said . ! ” What makes you look so white , so white -ou - said Files Parade . ! ’ ’ ’ dreadin I v e ot I m what g to watch , the - S Colour ergeant said . ’ ’ D D For they re hangin anny eever , you can D M hear the ead arch play , ’ ’ ’ The regiment s in ollow s! uare— they re ’ han gin him to d ay ; ’ ’ They ve taken of his buttons off an cut his stripes away , ’ ’ ’ An they re hangin Danny Deever in the ’ m ornin . ’ What makes the rear- rank breathe so ard ’ - ou - said Files Parade . ! It’s ’ bitter cold , it s bitter cold , the Colour s Sergeant aid . ” What makes that front- rank man fall down ! -ou - says Files Parade . ! ’ ’ 0 0 sun the r A touch sun , a touch , Colou Sergeant said . I O DANN Y DEE ! ER . ’ D D They are hangin anny eever , they are ’ ’ im marchin of round , They ’ ave ’ alted Danny Deever by ’ is coffin on the ground ; ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ An e ll swing in arf a minute for a sneakin shootin ’ hound ’ ’ O they re han gin DannyDeever in the morn ! in ’ ’ - s Is cot was right and cot to mine , aid -ou - Files Parade . ’ ’ ’ ’ E sslee in - p out an far to night , the Col - S our ergeant said . ! ’ ’ ’ ” 0 I ve drunk is beer a score times , said -ou - Files Parade . ’ ’ ’ E sdrinkin bitter beer alone , the Colour Sergeant said . ’ D D They are hangin anny eever , you must ’ im ’ mark to is place , ’ ’ For e shot a comrade sleepin —you must ’ look im in the face ; ’ ’ ’ ’ Nine undred of is county an the regiment s disgrace , While theyre hangin’ Danny Deever in the ’ m ornin . DANN Y DEE ! ER I I . What ’ s that so black agin the sun ! ” said F -on - iles Parade . ’ ’ ’ D fi htin C It s anny g ard for life , the olour S ergeant said . ’ ’ What s that that whimpers ov er ead said , F -ou - P iles arade . ’ ’ ’ D Col Its anny s soul that s passin now , the - our Sergeant said . ’ e D D For they re don with anny eever , you ’ can ear the ! uickstep play , ’ ’ The regiment s in column , and they re march ’ in us away ; ’ ’ ’ H0 ! the young recruits are shakin , an they ll - want their beer to day, ’ ’ D D m orn in After hangin anny eever in the . T MM Y 1 O . 3 TOMMY ’ ’ W El T into a public - ouse to get a pint o I ge er , ’ ’ e e The publican up an sez , We s rve no red ” coats here . ’ ’ The girls be in d the bar they laughed an gig gled fit to die , ’ sez I outs into the street again , an to myself I 0 ’ ’ ’ it s Tommy this , an Tommy that , an ! ” Tommy , go away ; ” it’s! M A But Thank you , ister tkins , when the band begins to play , The band begins to play , my boys , the band begins to play , ’ ! M A 0 it s Thank you , ister tkins , when ; the band begins to play . I went into a theatre as sober as could be ! ’ ’ adn t They gave a drunk civilian room , but none for me ; They sent me to the gallery or round the m u ’ - sic alls , ’ ’ But fi htin ! l when it comes to g , Lord they l shove me in the stalls ! I 4 TOMMY . ’ ’ ’ it s s an For Tommy thi , an Tommy that, ! ” Tommy , wait outside ; ’ ! But it s Special train for Atkins when th e ’ e trooper s on the tid , ’ he The troopship s on the tide my boys, t ’ troopship s on the tide , ’ ! ” 0 it s Special train for Atkins when the ’ o s the tr oper on tide . ’ ’ Yes . ou , makin mock o uniforms that guard y while you sleep m s ’ ’ Is cheaper than the uniform , an they re starvation cheap ; ’ ’ ’ An hustlin drunken soldierswhen they re goin ’ large a bit Isfive times better businessthan paradin’ in full kit . it’ s ’ ’ Then Tommy this , an Tommy that , an ! ’ ’ ! ” Tommy , ow s yer soul ’ ! ’ ” But it s Thin red line of eroes when the to drums begin roll , t o s the The drums begin o roll, my b y , e to drums b gin roll , ’ ! ’ ’ ’ 0 it s Thin red line of croes whe n the d sb to rum egin roll . ’ ’ ’ o eroesnor we n no We aren t n thin red , are t s blackguard too , barricks ost e e But single men in , m r markabl like you TOMM Y 1 . 5 ’ ’ An if sometimes our conduck isn t all your fancy paints ! ’ barricks Why , single men in don t grow into plaster saints ’ ’ a ’ While it s Tommy this , an Tommy th t , an ! ’ ” be in d Tommy , fall ; ’ ! But it s Please to walk in front , sir , when ’ there s trouble in the wind , ’ ’ There s trouble in the wind , my boys , there s trouble in the wind , ’ ! 0 it s Please to walk in front , sir , when ’ there s trouble in the wind . ’ ’ ’ 0 You talk better food for us , an schools , an ‘ ’ fires , an all ’ We ll wait for extry rations if you treat us ra i nal t o . ’ D - on t mess about the cook room slops , but ‘ prove it to our face . ’ ’ The Widow s uniform is not the soldier-man s disgrace . ’ ’ ’ For it s Tommy this , an Tommy that , an ! C ! ” huck him out , the brute ’ ! ’ But it s S aviour of iscountry when the guns begin to shoot . it ’ s ’ ’ Yes , Tommy this , an Tommy that , an anything you please ; ’ ’ But Tommy ain t a bloom in fool— you bet that Tommy sees! F ZZ Y- ZZ Y 1 U W U . 7 FUZZY - WUZZY ! SOUDA N E! PEDITION ARY FORCE! ’ W E ! E fought with many men acrost the seas , ’ ’ ’ An was some of em was brave , an some not , ’ ’ The Pay than an the Zulu an Burmese ; ’ But the Fuzzy was the finest o the lot .