SESTINA OF THE TRAMP-ROYAL. SPEAKIN' in general, I 'ave tried 'em all, What do it matter where or 'ow we die, So long as we've our 'ealth to watch it all— An' when they ain't, pretendin' they are good? In cash or credit-no, it ain't no good; Nor didn't prophesy nor fret at all, But drew your tucker some'ow from the world, An' never bothered what you might ha' done. But, Gawd, what things are they I 'aven't done ? For 'im that doth not work must surely die; Therfore, from job to job I've moved along. An' met my mate-the wind that tramps the world. It's like a book, I think, this bloomin' world, But what you're after is to turn 'em all. Gawd bless this world! Whatever she 'ath doneExcep' when awful long-I've found it good. So write, before I die, "'E liked it all!" When 'Omer smote 'is bloomin' lyre, He'd 'eard men sing by land an' sea; An' what he thought 'e might require, 'E went an' took-the same as me! The market-girls an' fishermen, The shepherds an' the sailors, too, They 'eard old songs turn up again, But kep' it quiet-same as you! They knew 'e stole; 'e knew they knowed. "BACK TO THE ARMY AGAIN." I'm 'ere in a ticky ulster an' a broken billycock 'at, A-layin' on to the sergeant I don't know a gun from a bat; My shirt's doin' duty for jacket, my sock's stickin' out o' my boots, An' I'm learnin' the damned old goose-step along o' the new recruits! Back to the Army again, sergeant, Back to the Army again. Don't look so 'ard, for I 'aven't no card, I'm back to the Army again! I done my six years' service. 'Er Majesty sez: "Good day You'll please to come when you're rung for, an' 'ere's your 'ole back pay; An' four-pence a day for baccy-an' bloomin' gen 'rous, too; An' now you can make your fortune-the same as your orf 'cers do." |