Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936). Verse: 1885–1918. 1922.
A Truthful Song
T
I tell this tale, which is strictly true,
Just by way of convincing you
How very little, since things were made,
Things have altered in the building trade.
We was building flats near the Marble Arch,
When a thin young man with coal-black hair
Came up to watch us working there.
Which this young man hadn’t seen or known;
Nor there wasn’t a tool from trowel to maul
But this young man could use ’em all!
Which was laying the pipes for the hot and cold;
“Since you with us have made so free,
Will you kindly say what your name might be?”
“It might be Lot or Methusalem,
Or it might be Moses (a man I hate)
Whereas it is Pharaoh surnamed the Great.
But otherwise I perceive no change;
And in less than a month if you do as I bid
I’d learn you to build me a Pyramid!”
I tell this tale, which is stricter true,
Just by way of convincing you
How very little, since things was made,
Things have altered in the shipwright’s trade.
A China barque re-fitting lay;
When a fat old man with snow-white hair
Came up to watch us working there.
But the old man made it—and better too;
Nor there wasn’t a sheet, or a lift, or a brace,
But the old man knew its lead and place.
Which was packing the pump in the afterhold:
“Since you with us have made so free,
Will you kindly tell what your name might be?”
“It might be Japheth, it might be Shem,
Or it might be Ham (though his skin was dark),
Whereas it is Noah, commanding the Ark.
But otherwise I perceive no change;
And in less than a week, if she did not ground,
I’d sail this hooker the wide world round!”
We tell these tales, which are strictest true,
Just by way of convincing you
How very little, since things was made,
Anything alters in any one’s trade!