The Recruit
Robert William Chambers 1865 ( Brooklyn, New York) – 1933 ( New York City)
Sez Corporal Madden to Private McFadden:
"Bedad, yer a bad un!
Now turn out yer toes!
Yer belt is unhookit,
Yer cap is on crookit,
Ye may not be dhrunk,
But, be jabers, ye look it!
Wan, two!
Wan, two!
Ye monkey-faced divil, I'll jolly ye through!
Wan, two!
Time! Mark!
Ye march like the aigle in Cintheral Parrk!"
Sez Corporal Madden to Private McFadden:
"A saint it ud sadden
To dhrill such a mug!
Eyes front! ye baboon, ye!
Chin up! ye gossoon, ye!
Ye've jaws like a goat,
Halt! ye leather-lipped loon, ye!
Wan, two!
Wan, two!
Ye whiskered orang-outang, I'll fix you!
Wan, two!
Time! Mark!
Ye've eyes like a bat! can ye see in the dark?"
Sez Corporal Madden to Private McFadden:
"Yer figger wants padd'n',
Sure, man, ye've no shape!
Behind ye yer shoulders
Stick out like two boulders;
Yer shins is as thin
As a pair of pen-holders!
Wan, two!
Wan, two!
Yer belly belongs on yer back, ye Jew!
Wan, two!
Time! Mark!
I'm dhry as a dog, I can't shpake but I bark!"
Sez Corporal Madden to Private McFadden:
"Me heart it ud gladden
To blacken your eye.
Ye're gettin' too bold, ye
Compel me to scold ye,
Tis halt! that I say,
Will ye heed what I told ye?
Wan, two!
Wan, two!
Be jabers, I'm dhryer than Brian Boru!
Wan, two!
Time! Mark!
What's wur-ruk for chickens is sport for the lark!"
Sez Corporal Madden to Private McFadden:
"I'll not stay a gaddin',
Wid dagoes like you!
I'll travel no farther,
I'm dyin' for, wather;
Come on, if ye like,
Can ye loan me a quather?
Ya-as, you,
What, two?
And ye'll pay the potheen? Ye're a daisy! Whurroo!
You'll do!
Whist! Mark!
The Rigiment's flattered to own ye, me spark!"
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Submitted on August 03, 2020
Modified on March 05, 2023
- 1:37 min read
- 5 Views
Quick analysis:
Scheme | AaxbbcbDDdDCc AaceebeDDdDCc AaxffxfDDdDCc AaxeexeDDgDCc Aadggcgddgbcc |
---|---|
Closest metre | Iambic trimeter |
Characters | 1,558 |
Words | 311 |
Stanzas | 5 |
Stanza Lengths | 13, 13, 13, 13, 13 |
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"The Recruit" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 23 May 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/56558/the-recruit>.
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