Rhymes of a Red Cross Man

<p><SPAN name="link2H_4_0003" id="link2H_4_0003"></SPAN></p> <br/> <h2> The Volunteer </h2> <p>Sez I: My Country calls? Well, let it call.<br/> I grins perlitely and declines wiv thanks.<br/> Go, let 'em plaster every blighted wall,<br/> 'Ere's <i>ONE</i> they don't stampede into the ranks.<br/> Them politicians with their greasy ways;<br/> Them empire-grabbers&mdash;fight for 'em? No fear!<br/> I've seen this mess a-comin' from the days<br/> Of Algyserious and Aggydear:<br/> I've felt me passion rise and swell,<br/> But . . . wot the 'ell, Bill? Wot the 'ell?<br/> <br/> Sez I: My Country? Mine? I likes their cheek.<br/> Me mud-bespattered by the cars they drive,<br/> Wot makes my measly thirty bob a week,<br/> And sweats red blood to keep meself alive!<br/> Fight for the right to slave that they may spend,<br/> Them in their mansions, me 'ere in my slum?<br/> No, let 'em fight wot's something to defend:<br/> But me, I've nothin'&mdash;let the Kaiser come.<br/> And so I cusses 'ard and well,<br/> But . . . wot the 'ell, Bill? Wot the 'ell?<br/> <br/> Sez I: If they would do the decent thing,<br/> And shield the missis and the little 'uns,<br/> Why, even <i>I</i> might shout "God save the King",<br/> And face the chances of them 'ungry guns.<br/> But we've got three, another on the way;<br/> It's that wot makes me snarl and set me jor:<br/> The wife and nippers, wot of 'em, I say,<br/> If I gets knocked out in this blasted war?<br/> Gets proper busted by a shell,<br/> But . . . wot the 'ell, Bill? Wot the 'ell?<br/> <br/> Ay, wot the 'ell's the use of all this talk?<br/> To-day some boys in blue was passin' me,<br/> And some of 'em they 'ad no legs to walk,<br/> And some of 'em they 'ad no eyes to see.<br/> And&mdash;well, I couldn't look 'em in the face,<br/> And so I'm goin', goin' to declare<br/> I'm under forty-one and take me place<br/> To face the music with the bunch out there.<br/> A fool, you say! Maybe you're right.<br/> I'll 'ave no peace unless I fight.<br/> I've ceased to think; I only know<br/> I've gotta go, Bill, gotta go.<br/></p> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />