'The true Soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because He loves what is behind him.' -G. K. Chesterton

23 December 2012

Sunday Kipling

Merry Christmas my friends. I hope it finds you all among those you love best. Eat all you want, Christmas food is calorie free as all know.

This is hardly a holiday much less a Christmas poem but it tickles me and I am after all The Six and I know my dooty. I could have chosen something obvious like Christmas in India but I think you'll like this one.

See you all in 2013.
Six

The Jacket

Through the Plagues of Egyp' we was chasin' Arabi,
 Gettin' down an' shovin' in the sun;
An' you might 'ave called us dirty, 
an' you might ha' called us dry,
 An' you might 'ave 'eard us talkin' at the gun.
But the Captain 'ad 'is jacket, 
an' the jacket it was new --
 ('Orse Gunners, listen to my song!)
An' the wettin' of the jacket 
is the proper thing to do,
 Nor we didn't keep 'im waiting very long.
 
One day they gave us orders for to shell a sand redoubt,
 Loadin' down the axle-arms with case;
But the Captain knew 'is dooty, 
an' he took the crackers out
 An' he put some proper liquor in its place.
An' the Captain saw the shrapnel, 
which is six-an'-thirty clear.
 ('Orse Gunners, listen to my song!)
"Will you draw the weight," sez 'e, 
"or will you draw the beer?"
 An' we didn't keep 'im waitin' very long.
  For the Captain, etc.
 
Then we trotted gentle, not to break the bloomin' glass,
 Though the Arabites 'ad all their ranges marked;
But we dursn't 'ardly gallop, for the most was bottled Bass,
 An' we'd dreamed of it since we was disembarked,
So we fired economic with the shells we 'ad in 'and,
 ('Orse Gunners, listen to my song!)
But the beggars under cover 'ad the impidence to stand,
 An' we couldn't keep 'em waitin' very long.
  And the Captain, etc.
 
So we finished 'arf the liquor 
(an' the Captain took champagne),
 An' the Arabites was shootin' all the while;
An' we left our wounded 'appy 
with the empties on the plain,
 An' we used the bloomin' guns for projectile!
We limbered up an' galloped -- 
there were nothin' else to do --
 ('Orse Gunners, listen to my song!)
An' the Battery came a-boundin' 
like a boundin' kangaroo,
 But they didn't watch us comin' very long.
  As the Captain, etc.
 
We was goin' most extended -- 
we was drivin' very fine,
 An' the Arabites were loosin' 'igh an' wide,
Till the Captain took the glacis 
with a rattlin' "right incline,"
 An' we dropped upon their 'eads the other side.
Then we give 'em quarter -- such as 'adn't up and cut,
 ('Orse Gunners, listen to my song!)
An' the Captain stood a limberful of fizzy somethin' Brutt,
 But we didn't leave it fizzing very long.
  For the Captain, etc.
 
We might ha' been court-martialled, 
but it all come out all right
 When they signalled us to join the main command.
There was every round expended, there was every gunner tight,
 An' the Captain waved a corkscrew in 'is 'and.
  But the Captain 'ad 'is jacket, etc.

17 comments:

agirlandhergun said...

Merry, Merry Christmas!!! Be blessed. Be safe!

Rev. Paul said...

Merry Christmas to you, Mrs. Six, and any assorted little Sixes!

Keads said...

Merry Christmas Six!

Six said...

Thanks everyone and Merry Christmas to you all!

Paladin said...

Merry Christmas Six! Hope you all have a fine day.

Anonymous said...

Six,
Just turned Christmas Day here down under. Wishing yourself, loved ones and readers a merry one.

Sarge said...

Merry Christmas everyone. Six and Lou we love you and even Angus Merry Christmas again.

Sarge and MIL

Home on the Range said...

Merry Christmas Six - thank you for all the support and friendship this year.

Old NFO said...

Merry Christmas Six, and to all the rest of the family!!!

Murphy's Law said...

Merry Christmas, from Murphy and me.

agirlandhergun said...

Merry Christmas Six!!! Sending good wishes to you, Lu, Angus and the whole gang!

Six said...

Thank you all. Friends are such a blessing.

NavyOne said...

Merry Christmas -Six- to you, your family and your faithful pooch!

JihadGene said...

A very Merry Christmas to you, Six! God bless you!

Blue said...

Merry Christmas, my friend. I hope it's been a good one for you!

Six said...

You all are the best. Thanks for everything!

instinct said...

Merry Christmas!