Poetry and Potpourri ....... September 24, 2003

9-24-2003 | JustAmy, Mama_Bear, St.Louie1

[JustAmy]

First ..... Welcome to Poetry and Popourri!!! So glad that you found us.

Second ...... Thank you for your service!!

I am going to bring your post from the prior thread over so everyone can enjoy it. Thank you for posting it!

JustAmy

[JustAmy]

To: JustAmy

Okay, I'm a veteran and I'm visiting! Here is my contribution to the Poetry Branch!


Tommy

By Rudyard Kipling
Born 1865

I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer,
The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."
The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:
O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";
But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play.

I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside"
But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide,
The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.

Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.
Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, 'ow's yer soul?"
But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.

We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints,
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;
While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind",
But it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind,
There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
O it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind.

You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all:
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"
But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool -- you bet that Tommy sees!

651 posted on 09/25/2003 6:31 PM PDT by Colt .45 (Cold War, Vietnam Era, Desert Storm Veteran - Pride in my Southern Ancestry!)

[Alkhin]

Hi JustAmy...thank you for the ping! Is there a certain theme I should keep to?? Just curious because I don't want to post something that others would deem unacceptable...

I may lurk more often than post, but I will certainly be thankful if you kept me on your ping list!

Alkhin

[JustAmy]

"Is there a certain theme I should keep to?? Just curious because I don't want to post something that others would deem unacceptable... "

No theme ..... LOL

We just want everyone to have fun and relax. You will find jokes, stories, cartoons and even recipes.

The only rules are that we don't go over the line with adult content. I'm not sure how many young people we have here. If you feel that it is okay for your 13 and 14 year olds, then go ahead and post it.

Please come back to lurk and/or post. We look forward to seeing you again.

[Pippin]

Hi, Alkhin!

You don't have to be into poetry or write peotry to come to this thread.

It'a a new thread set up by JustAmy, who has revived the old poetry thread begun by CoteBlanche, who has since left FR. But Amy wanted to set up a thread where folks could come by and relax and tell a few joke and read poetry or post recipes or just "hang out"

c'mon back! we have fun!

[JustAmy]

Thanks, Pippin. We do have fun don't we?

We have a new thread this morning. Come over here.

[larryjohnson]

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