Page:The Five Nations.djvu/224

 "WILFUL-MISSING"

is a world outside the one you know,

To which for curiousness 'Ell can't compare—

It is the place where "wilful-missings" go,

As we can testify, for we are there.

You may 'ave read a bullet laid us low,

That we was gathered in "with reverent care"

And buried proper. But it was not so,

As we can testify, for we are there.

They can't be certain—faces alter so

After the old aasvogel 's 'ad 'is share;

The uniform's the mark by which they go—

And—ain't it odd?—the one we best can spare.

We might 'ave seen our chance to cut the show—

Name, number, record, an' begin elsewhere—

Leavin' some not too late-lamented foe

One funeral—private—British—for 'is share.

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