Page:Poems of the Great War - Cunliffe.djvu/213

 ��HE WENT FOR A SOLDIER

He marched away with a blithe young score of him

With the first vohinteers, Clear-eyed and clean and sound to the core of him,

Blushing under the cheers. They were fine, new flags that swoing a-flying there, Oh, the pretty girls he glimpsed a-crying there.

Pelting him with pinks and with roses —

Billv, the Soldier Bov !

Not very clear in the kind young heart of him

What the fuss was about, But the flowers and the flags seemed part of him —

The music drowned his doubt. It's a fine, brave sight they were a-coming there To the gay, bold tune they kept a-drumming there,

While the boasting fifes shrilled jauntily —

Billy, the Soldier Boy !

Soon he is one with the blinding smoke of it —

Volley and curse and groan : Then he has done with the knightly joke of it —

It's rending flesh and bone.

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