The Last Laugh

'Oh! Jesus Christ! I'm hit,' he said; and died.

Whether he vainly cursed or prayed indeed,

The Bullets chirped-In vain, vain, vain!

Machine-guns chuckled,-Tut-tut! Tut-tut!

And the Big Gun guffawed.

Another sighed,-'O Mother, -Mother, - Dad!'

Then smiled at nothing, childlike, being dead.

And the lofty Shrapnel-cloud

Leisurely gestured,-Fool!

And the splinters spat, and tittered.

'My Love!' one moaned. Love-languid seemed his mood,

Till slowly lowered, his whole faced kissed the mud.

And the Bayonets' long teeth grinned;

Rabbles of Shells hooted and groaned;

And the Gas hissed.