The Young British Soldier Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AAABBBBC DDDBB EEEBB FFFBB FFFBB FFFBB FFFBB GGGBB HHHBB IIIBB JJJBB FFFBB KKKBBBBC| When the 'arf made recruity goes out to the East | A |
| 'E acts like a babe an' 'e drinks like a beast | A |
| An' 'e wonders because 'e is frequent deceased | A |
| Ere 'e's fit for to serve as a soldier | B |
| Serve serve serve as a soldier | B |
| Serve serve serve as a soldier | B |
| Serve serve serve as a soldier | B |
| So oldier OF the Queen | C |
| - | |
| Now all you recruities what's drafted to day | D |
| You shut up your rag box an' 'ark to my lay | D |
| An' I'll sing you a soldier as far as I may | D |
| A soldier what's fit for a soldier | B |
| Fit fit fit for a soldier | B |
| - | |
| First mind you steer clear o' the grog sellers' huts | E |
| For they sell you Fixed Bay'nets that rots out your guts | E |
| Ay drink that 'ud eat the live steel from your butts | E |
| An' it's bad for the young British soldier | B |
| Bad bad bad for the soldier | B |
| - | |
| When the cholera comes as it will past a doubt | F |
| Keep out of the wet and don't go on the shout | F |
| For the sickness gets in as the liquor dies out | F |
| An' it crumples the young British soldier | B |
| Crum crum crumples the soldier | B |
| - | |
| But the worst o' your foes is the sun over'ead | F |
| You must wear your 'elmet for all that is said | F |
| If 'e finds you uncovered 'e'll knock you down dead | F |
| An' you'll die like a fool of a soldier | B |
| Fool fool fool of a soldier | B |
| - | |
| If you're cast for fatigue by a sergeant unkind | F |
| Don't grouse like a woman nor crack on nor blind | F |
| Be handy and civil and then you will find | F |
| That it's beer for the young British soldier | B |
| Beer beer beer for the soldier | B |
| - | |
| Now if you must marry take care she is old | F |
| A troop sergeant's widow's the nicest I'm told | F |
| For beauty won't help if your rations is cold | F |
| Nor love ain't enough for a soldier | B |
| 'Nough 'nough 'nough for a soldier | B |
| - | |
| If the wife should go wrong with a comrade be loath | G |
| To shoot when you catch 'em you'll swing on my oath | G |
| Make 'im take 'er and keep 'er that's Hell for them both | G |
| An' you're shut o' the curse of a soldier | B |
| Curse curse curse of a soldier | B |
| - | |
| When first under fire an' you're wishful to duck | H |
| Don't look nor take 'eed at the man that is struck | H |
| Be thankful you're livin' and trust to your luck | H |
| And march to your front like a soldier | B |
| Front front front like a soldier | B |
| - | |
| When 'arf of your bullets fly wide in the ditch | I |
| Don't call your Martini a cross eyed old bitch | I |
| She's human as you are you treat her as sich | I |
| An' she'll fight for the young British soldier | B |
| Fight fight fight for the soldier | B |
| - | |
| When shakin' their bustles like ladies so fine | J |
| The guns o' the enemy wheel into line | J |
| Shoot low at the limbers an' don't mind the shine | J |
| For noise never startles the soldier | B |
| Start start startles the soldier | B |
| - | |
| If your officer's dead and the sergeants look white | F |
| Remember it's ruin to run from a fight | F |
| So take open order lie down and sit tight | F |
| And wait for supports like a soldier | B |
| Wait wait wait like a soldier | B |
| - | |
| When you're wounded and left on Afghanistan's plains | K |
| And the women come out to cut up what remains | K |
| Jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains | K |
| An' go to your Gawd like a soldier | B |
| Go go go like a soldier | B |
| Go go go like a soldier | B |
| Go go go like a soldier | B |
| So oldier of the Queen | C |
Rudyard Kipling
(1)
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