Page:Rudyard Kipling's verse - Inclusive Edition 1885-1918.djvu/540

 1899

(Boer War)

OMMY" you was when it began,

But now that it is o'er

You shall be called The Service Man

'Enceforward, evermore.

Batt'ry, brigade, flank, centre, van,

Defaulter, Army-corps—

From first to last, The Service Man

'Enceforward, evermore.

From 'Alifax to 'Industan,

From York to Singapore—

'Orse,foot, an' guns, The Service Man

'Enceforward, evermore!



THE ABSENT-MINDED BEGGAR

HEN you've shouted "Rule Britannia," when you've sung "God save the Queen,"

When you've finished killing Kruger with your mouth,

Will you kindly drop a shilling in my little tambourine

For a gentleman in kharki ordered South?

He's an absent-minded beggar, and his weaknesses are great—

But we and Paul must take him as we find him—

He is out on active service, wiping something off a slate—

And he's left a lot of little things behind him!

Duke's son—cook's son—son of a hundred kings—

(Fifty thousand horse and foot going to Table Bay!)

Each of 'em doing his country's work

(and who's to look after their things?)

Pass the hat for your credit's sake,

and pay—pay—pay!

