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Sunday, November 13, 2022

The Call / Jessie Pope


The Call

Who's for the trench –
        Are you, my laddie?
Who'll follow the French –
        Will you, my laddie ?
Who's fretting to begin,
Who's going out to win?
And who wants to save his skin –
        Do you, my laddie?

Who's for the khaki suit –
        Are you, my laddie?
Who longs to charge and shoot –
        Do you, my laddie?
Who's keen on getting fit,
Who means to show his grit,
And who'd rather wait a bit –
        Would you, my laddie?

Who'll earn the Empire's thanks –
        Will you, my laddie?
Who'll swell the victor's ranks –
        Will you, my laddie?
When that procession comes,
Banners and rolling drums –
Who'll stand and bite his thumbs? –
        Will you, my laddie?

~~
Jessie Pope (1868-1941)
from
Jessie Pope's War Poems, 1915

[Poem is in the public domain in Canada, the United States, and the European Union]

1 comment:

  1. A poem well written... the refrain is appreciated. I also enjoyed the video George J. Dance. A nice way to remember the good brave men & women who fought for our & their freedom, our & their liberty. We owe them a debt of gratitude forever & always. 💟💟💟💟💟

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