Page:Claude McKay Constab Ballads.djvu/59

Rh

’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 tumblin’ in-a bunk;