Father Orthoduck is a Rudyard Kipling fan as are many military science fiction writers. Below is one of his more humorous pieces. Enjoy!
Cells
- I’ve a head like a concertina: I’ve a tongue like a button-stick:
- I’ve a mouth like an old potato, and I’m more than a little sick,
- But I’ve had my fun o’ the Corp’ral’s Guard: I’ve made the cinders fly,
- And I’m here in the Clink for a thundering drink
- and blacking the Corporal’s eye.
- With a second-hand overcoat under my head,
- And a beautiful view of the yard,
- O it’s pack-drill for me and a fortnight’s C.B.
- For “drunk and resisting the Guard!”
- Mad drunk and resisting the Guard —
- ‘Strewth, but I socked it them hard!
- So it’s pack-drill for me and a fortnight’s C.B.
- For “drunk and resisting the Guard.”
- I started o’ canteen porter, I finished o’ canteen beer,
- But a dose o’ gin that a mate slipped in, it was that that brought me here.
- ‘Twas that and an extry double Guard that rubbed my nose in the dirt;
- But I fell away with the Corp’ral’s stock
- and the best of the Corp’ral’s shirt.
- I left my cap in a public-house, my boots in the public road,
- And Lord knows where, and I don’t care, my belt and my tunic goed;
- They’ll stop my pay, they’ll cut away the stripes I used to wear,
- But I left my mark on the Corp’ral’s face, and I think he’ll keep it there!
- My wife she cries on the barrack-gate, my kid in the barrack-yard,
- It ain’t that I mind the Ord’ly room — it’s ~that~ that cuts so hard.
- I’ll take my oath before them both that I will sure abstain,
- But as soon as I’m in with a mate and gin, I know I’ll do it again!
- With a second-hand overcoat under my head,
- And a beautiful view of the yard,
- Yes, it’s pack-drill for me and a fortnight’s C.B.
- For “drunk and resisting the Guard!”
- Mad drunk and resisting the Guard —
- ‘Strewth, but I socked it them hard!
- So it’s pack-drill for me and a fortnight’s C.B.
- For “drunk and resisting the Guard.”
John P Conley says
Ive never read this before, I like it! Yes,I am a Rudyard Kipling fan and yes, "If" is one of my favorite poems. lol
Ernesto M. Obregón says
I have got to come down and see you again soon so we can share Kipling stories over a good drink on the veranda. GRIN.
Ernesto M. Obregón says
I have got to come down and see you again soon so we can share Kipling stories over a good drink on the veranda. GRIN.