Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A TRUE-BLUE BROADSIDE OF '14, by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A TRUE-BLUE BROADSIDE OF '14, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: And what's the news, mr. Sergeant, what news, my soldier man?'
Last Line: With a leetle more broth than he meant to spare 'twixt petersburg and france.'
Alternate Author Name(s): Ramal, Walter; De La Mare, Walter
Subject(s): World War I; First World War


'And what's the news, Mr. Sergeant, what news, my soldier man?' --
'We're away and a-ship to Bel-gi-um as softly as ship can;
The Kaiser and his Lords of War have shook a mailed fist,
And a hundred thousand Englishmen are off to keep the tryst.

'The Kaiser he's a gentleman, and eager for to dance
Across the floor of half the world from Petersburg to France;
"In gay Paree, we'll sup," says he, "so Moltke, call the page,
His name is little Bel-gi-um, and my pumps are in Liege."

'"Soft," says Sir Edward, calm and cool, "there's them across the seas
Are ready to take a turn, my lord, and join you, if you please;
They're not such folk as wants to jolt on any friendly toes,
They'll merely set to partners, sir, and that's a game they knows.

'"With Dreadnoughts here, two kinds of French, the Rooshans at your heel,
They'll keep the ball a-rolling, sir, and face you keel to Kiel;
And when it comes to hornpipes, la, Britannia's learned the knack
Of dancing midnight down the sky and dancing morning back."

'So it's H'st, my lads, and Wh'st, my lads, the music's just begun,
The gals have brought their powder-puffs, and the world shall watch the fun;
There's Jellicoe to keep the row, and the Kaiser he shall prance
With a leetle more broth than he meant to spare 'twixt Petersburg and France.'





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