Page:Rudyard Kipling's verse - Inclusive Edition 1885-1918.djvu/564

 546 RUDYARD KIPLING'S VERSE

PIET

(Regular of the Line}

T DO not love my Empire's foes,

Nor call 'em angels; still, What is the sense of 'atin' those

'Oom you are paid to kill? So, barrin' all that foreign lot Which only joined for spite, Myself, I'd just as soon as not Respect the man I fight. Ah there, Piet! 'is trousies to 'is knees, 'Is coat-tails lyin' level in the bullet-sprinkled breeze; 'E does not lose 'is rifle an' 'e does not lose 'is seat, I've known a lot o' people ride a dam' sight worse than Piet.

I've 'card 'im cryin' from the ground

Like Abel's blood of old, An' skirmished out to look, an' found

The beggar nearly cold. I've waited on till 'e was dead

(Which couldn't 'elp 'im much), But many grateful things 'e 's said To me for doin' such.

Ah there, Piet! whose time 'as come to die,

'Is carcase past rebellion, but 'is eyes inquirin' why.

Though dressed in stolen uniform with badge o' rank

complete,

I've known a lot o' fellers go a dam' sight worse than Piet.

An' when there was n't aught to do

But camp and cattle-guards, I've fought with 'im the 'ole day through

At fifteen 'undred yards;