Page:Rudyard Kipling's verse - Inclusive Edition 1885-1918.djvu/476

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
458
RUDYARD KIPLING'S VERSE

"Soldier, soldier come from the wars,
"Do you bring no sign from my true love?"
"I bring a lock of 'air that 'e allus used to wear,
"An' you'd best go look for a new love."

"Soldier, soldier come from the wars,
"O then I know it's true I've lost my true love!"
"An' I tell you truth again when you've lost the feel o' pain
"You'd best take me for your new love."

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


SCREW-GUNS

SMOKIN' my pipe on the mountings, sniffin' the mornin' cool,
I walks in my old brown gaiters along o' my old brown mule,
With seventy gunners be'ind me, an' never a beggar forgets
It's only the pick of the Army that handles the dear little pets—Tss! 'Tss!
For you all love the screw-guns the screw-guns they all love you!
So when we call round with a few guns, o' course you will know what to do hoo! hoo!
Jest send in your Chief an' surrender it's worse if you fights or you runs:
You can go where you please, you can skid up the trees, but you don't get away from the guns!