Billy Khaki Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABABACDC EFEFEGEG HIJIKLML KNONPQNQ ERRKQKQ KNKNKQQ STUTVWQW AQQQXYKY KQQQQLKL EFEFEGEG

Marching somewhat out of orderA
when the band is cock a hoopB
There's a lilting kind of magic in the swaggerA
of the troopB
Swinging all aboard the steamer with herA
nose toward the seaC
What is calling Billy Khaki that you're footD
ing it so freeC
-
Though his lines are none too levelE
And he lacks a bit of styleF
And he's swanking like the devilE
Where the women wave and smileF
He will answer with a rifleE
Trim and true from stock to boreG
Where the comrades crouch and stifleE
In the reeking pit of warG
-
What is calling Billy Khaki There isH
thunder down the skyI
And the merry magpie bugle splits the mornJ
ing with its cryI
While your feet are beating rhythms up theK
dusty hills and downL
And the drums are all a talking in the hollowM
of the townL
-
Billy Khaki is't the splendor of the song theK
kiddies singN
Or the whipping of the flags aloft that setsO
your heart a swingN
Is't the cheering like a paean of the tossP
ing teeming crowdsQ
Or the boom of distant cannon flatly bumpingN
on the cloudsQ
-
What's calling calling Billy 'Tis the rattleE
far awayR
Of the cavalry at gallop and artillery in playR
'Tis the great gun's fierce concussion and theK
smell of seven hellsQ
When the long ranks go to pieces in theK
sneezing of the shellsQ
-
But your eyes are laughing Billy and aK
ribald song you singN
While the old men sit and tell us war it is aK
ghastly thingN
When the swift machines are busy and theK
grim squat fortress nocksQ
At your bolts as vain as eggs of gulls that spatter on the rocksQ
-
When the horses sweep upon you to completeS
a sudden routT
Or in fire and smoke and fury some braveU
regiment goes outT
War is cruel Bill and ugly But full wellV
you know the restW
Yet your heart is for the battle and your faceQ
is to the westW
-
For if war is beastly Billy you can pictureA
something worseQ
There's the wrecking of an empire and itsQ
broken people's curseQ
There are nations reft of freedom and of hopeX
and kindly mirthY
And the shadow of an evil black upon theK
bitter earthY
-
So we know what's calling Billy 'Tis theK
spirit of our raceQ
And its stir is in your pulses and its light isQ
on your faceQ
As you march with clipping boot heelsQ
through the piping howling townL
To uphold the land we live in and to pull aK
tyrant downL
-
Thou his lines are none too levelE
And he's not a whale for styleF
And he's swanking like the devilE
When the women wave and smileF
He will answer with a rifleE
Trim and true from stuck to boreG
When the comrades sit and stifleE
In the smoking pit of warG

Edward George Dyson



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