Bobs

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"Bobs"
by Rudyard Kipling
From Barrack Room Ballads and Other Verses (1892).


(Field Marshal Lord Roberts of Kandahar)

There's a little red-faced man,
           Which is Bobs,
Rides the talliest 'orse 'e can --
           Our Bobs.
If it bucks or kicks or rears,
'E can sit for twenty years
With a smile round both 'is ears --
           Can't yer, Bobs?

Then 'ere's to Bobs Bahadur -- little Bobs, Bobs, Bobs!
'E's our pukka Kandaharder --
           Fightin' Bobs, Bobs, Bobs!
'E's the Dook of Aggy Chel;
'E's the man that done us well,
 An' we'll follow 'im to 'ell --
           Won't we, Bobs?

If a limber's slipped a trace,
          'Ook on Bobs.
If a marker's lost 'is place,
           Dress by Bobs.
For 'e's eyes all up 'is coat,
An'a a bugle in 'is throat,
An' you will not play the goat
           Under Bobs.

'E's a little down on drink
           Chaplain Bobs;
But it keeps us outer Clink --
           Don't it, Bobs?
So we will not complain
Tho' 'e's water on the brain,
If 'e leads us straight again --
           Blue-light Bobs.


If you stood 'im on 'is head,
           Father Bobs,
You could spill a quart ot lead
           Outer Bobs.
'E's been at it thirty years,
An-amassin' soveneers
In the way o' slugs an' spears --
           Ain't yer Bobs?

What 'e does not knowv o'war,
           Gen'ral Bobs,
You cun arst the shop next door --
           Can't they, Bobs?
Oh, 'e's little but he's wise;
'E's terror for' is size:,
An' -- 'e -- does -- not -- advertise --
           Do yer, Bobs?

Now they 've made a blooimin 'Lord
           Outer Bobs,
Which was but 'is fair reward --
           Weren't it, Bobs?:
So 'ell wear a coronet
Where 'is 'elmet used to set;
But we know you won't forget --
           Will yer, Bobs?

Then 'ere's to Bobs Bahadur -- little Bobs, Bobs, Bobs,
Pocket-Wellin'ton 'an arder --
           Fightin' Bobs, Bobs, Bobs!
This ain't no bloomin' ode,
But you've 'elped the soldier's load,
An' for benefits bestowed,
           Bless yer, Bobs!


PD-icon.svg This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1923.

The author died in 1936, so this work is also in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 75 years or less. This work may also be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.

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