Page:Claude McKay Constab Ballads.djvu/59

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
PAY-DAY
55

’Ter all de formalities,
Dis an’ dat an’ warra not,
Salute,—’tion,—right about turn,—
Den de precious pay is got:
Lee gone to de réward fund
T’rough a blot’ defaulter-sheet,
Run do’n by sub-officers,
Or caught sleepin’ on dem beat;

Den dere’s somet’ing gone fe kit;
Uniform mus’ smart an’ nice,
Else de officer won’ t’ink
Dat a bobby’s wutten price.
All dem way de money go;
So de payin’-out fe some,
When de fortnight dem come roun’,
Bégin-a ord’ly room.

Now comes payin’ up de debts
To de miscellaneous crowd
Waitin’ by de barrack-gate,
Chattin’, chattin’ very loud:
Payin’, payin’ all de time,
From a poun’ do’n to a gill,
Whole fortnight-pay partly done,
Yet rum-money lef’ back still.

Strollin’ t’rough de gate at night,
Drinkin’ Finzi tell dead drunk,
Barely standin’ at tattoo,—

After[1] tumblin’ in-a bunk;
  1. Afterwards.