Page:Two Mock Epics (Hanuman and Tantum Religio), Lyrics, Post Meridian Verse, The Turret Captain's Toast and other Verses.pdf/125

 Like slug or grape shot: “Hark! ye, dumb-heads,

Swift call the fire-brigade!” or bristled

As “flay their mangy hides for drum-heads!”

He roared:—then down the staircase jumps

In flights, ejaculating: “Pumps:”

Now, “whirra! whirra! hammer! hammer!”

Hose, engine, firemen headlong gallop,

Cleaving the mobs that chafe and clamour

Like surfs behind a racing shalop.

Pouff! whizz! flies on the painted dragon,

Fuchs foremost brandishing a flagon.

Just, only just in time they reach it—

The fated house, its portal glaring

With the red bonfires piled to breach it,

Where on the ground like cherubs blaring

The faithful lie, their puffed cheeks beaming

Like gourds a-roast or pumpkins steaming.

And all along the façade, by the

Ground-storey window bars deflected,

From juniper and larch branch fly the

Bright swarm of sparks, in spires ejected:

And men, with Alpine rhododendron

Flaring like tow, from end to end run.

Close packed behind, like fields in fallow,

The dense mob heaves in breathless rapture,

When pizz! whizz! splash from bald pate sallow

Off flies a hat, the hat to capture

The owner with scant back hair dripping

Among the crowd goes dipping, dipping.

And now another splash, bang, fizzle,