Classic Poem

Ah! I never was intended for a job like this. I realize it more and more every day, but I will stick it out till I break down. To be nervous, over-imaginative, terribly sensitive to suffering, is a poor equipment for the man who starts out to drive wounded on the battlefield. I am haunted by the thought that my car may break down when I have a load of wounded. Once indeed it did, and a man died while I waited for help. Now I never look at what is given me. It might unnerve me.
I have been at it for over six months without a rest. When an attack has been going on I have worked day and night, until as I drove I wanted to fall asleep at the wheel.
The winter has been trying; there is rain one day, frost the next. Mud up to the axles. One sleeps in lousy barns or dripping dugouts. Cold, hunger, dirt, I know them all singly and together. My only consolation is that the war must soon be over, and that I will have helped. When I have time and am not too tired, I comfort myself with scribbling.

THE BOOBY-TRAP

I'm crawlin' out in the mangolds to bury wot's left o' Joe —
Joe, my pal, and a good un (God! 'ow it rains and rains).
I'm sick o' seein' him lyin' like a eap o' offal, and so
I'm crawlin' out in the beet-field to bury is last remains.

'E might 'a bin makin' munitions — 'e 'adn't no need to go;
An' I tells 'im strite, but 'e arnsers, — 'Tain't no use chewin' the fat;
I've got to be doin' me dooty wiv the rest o' the boys — an' so
Yon's 'im, yon blob on the beet-field wot I'm tryin so 'ard to git at.

There was five of us lads from the brickyard; 'Enry was gassed at Bapome,
Sydney was drowned in a crater, 'Erbert was 'alved by a shell;
Joe was the pick o' the posy, might 'a bin sifely at 'ome,
Only son of 'is mother, 'er a widder as well.

She used to sell bobbins and buttons — 'ad a plice near the Waterloo Road;
A little, old, bent-over lydy, wiv glasses an' silvery 'air;
Must tell 'er I planted 'im nicely, cheer'er up like. â?¦ (Well, I'm blowed,
That bullet near catched me a biffer) — I'll see the old gel if I'm spared.

She'll tike it to 'eart, pore ol' lydy, fer'e was 'er 'ope and 'er joy;
'Is dad used to drink like a knot-'ole, she kept the 'ome goin'; she did:
She pinched and she scriped fer 'is scoolin', 'e was sich a fine 'andsome boy
('Alf Flanders seems packed on me panties) — 'e's 'andsome no longer, pore kid!

This bit o' a board that I'm packin' and draggin' around in the mire,
I was tickled to death when I found it. Says I, — 'Ere's a nice little glow. —
I was chilled and wet through to the marrer, so I started to make me a fire;
And then I says: — No; 'ere, Goblimy, it'll do for a cross for Joe. —

Well, 'ere 'e is. Gawd! 'Ow one chinges a-lyin six weeks in the rain.
Joe, me old pal, 'ow I'm sorry; so 'elp me, I wish I could pray.
An' now I'ad best get a-diggin' 'is grave (it seems more like a drain) —
And I 'opes that the Boches won't git me till I gits 'im safe planted away.

(As he touches the body there is a tremendous explosion. He falls back shattered.)

A booby-trap! Ought to 'a known it! If that's not a bastardly trick!
Well, one thing, I won't be long goin. Gawd! I'm a 'ell of a sight.
Wish I'd died fightin' and killin'; that's wot it is makes me sick. â?¦
Ah, Joe! we'll be pushin' up dysies â?¦ together, old Chummie â?¦ good-night!