Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936). Verse: 1885–1918. 1922.
Columns
O
(Time, an ’igh time to be trekkin’ again!)
’Oo is it ’eads to the Detail Supply?
A section, a pompom, an’ six ’undred men.
(Time, an’ ’igh time to be trekkin’ again!)
“Surplus of everything—draw what you please
“For the section, the pompom, an’ six ’undred men.”
(Time, an’ ’igh time to be trekkin’ again!)
“You came after dark—you will leave before day,
“You section, you pompom, you six ’undred men!”
’Ark to ’em blessin’ the Gen’ral in bed!
Over the ridge an’ it’s all lef be’ind
For the section, etc.
Roll up for coffee an’ sleep while they may—
The section, etc.
For they’ll move after dark to astonish the Dutch
With a section, etc.
Blankets on rifles or burrows in grass,
Lies the section, etc.
Watching chameleons or cleanin’ a gun,
Waits the section, etc.
An’ the silly mirage stringin’ islands an’ seas
Round the section, etc.
Till the shadows crawl out from beneath the pore stones
Towards the section, etc.
An’ the ’orse-guard comes up and the Gunners ’ook in
As a ’int to the pompom an’ six ’undred men….
(Alpha Centauri an’ somethin’ Orion)
Moves the section, etc.
Same bloomin’ stumble an’ same bloomin’ joke
Down the section, etc.
Same “give it up” from the same clever guide
To the section, etc.
Same white-eyed Kaffir ’oo gives the alarm
Of the section, etc.
Same flyin’-tackle an’ same messy fight,
By the section, etc.
When it’s too dark to see an’ it’s too late to feel
In the section, etc.
Watchin’ their comrades bolt over the ’ill
From the section, etc.)
As ’e gets up displeasured to see what was done
By the section, etc.
An’ the same quiet face which ’as finished with all
In the section, the pompom, an’ six ’undred men.
(Time, an’ ’igh time to be trekkin’ again!)
’Oo is it ’eads to the Detail Supply?
A section, a pompom, an’ six ’undred men.