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- In cash or credit-no, it ain't no good; But drew your tucker some'ow from the world, 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. 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. An' 'e winked back-the same as us! "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." |