Page:Rudyard Kipling's verse - Inclusive Edition 1885-1918.djvu/475

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
INCLUSIVE EDITION, 1885-1918
457

SOLDIER, SOLDIER

SOLDIER, soldier come from the wars,
"Why don't you march with my true love?"
"We're fresh from off the ship an' 'e's, maybe, give the slip,
"An' you'd best go look for a new love."

New love! True love!
Best go look for a new love,
The dead they cannot rise, an* you'd better dry your eyes,
An* you'd best go look for a new love.

"Soldier, soldier come from the wars,
"What did you see o' my true love?"
"I seen 'im serve the Queen in a suit o f rifle-green,
"An' you'd best go look for a new love."

"Soldier, soldier come from the wars,
"Did ye see no more o' my true love?"
"I seen 'im runnin' by when the shots begun to fly
"But you'd best go look for a new love."

"Soldier, soldier come from the wars,
"Did aught take 'arm to my true love?"
"I couldn't see the fight, for the smoke it lay so white
"And you'd best go look for a new love."

"Soldier, soldier come from the wars,
"I'll up an' tend to my true love!"
"'E's lying on the dead with a bullet through 'is 'ead,
"An' you'd best go look for a new love."

"Soldier, soldier come from the wars,
"I'll down an' die with my true love!"
"The pit we dug'll 'ide 'im an' the twenty more beside 'im
"An* you'd best go look for a new love."