Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, BEGGAR BILL, by WALTER HENDRICKS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

BEGGAR BILL, by                    
First Line: Shrapnel would have burst his head
Last Line: "had I but turned my head that day!"
Subject(s): Luck; Soldiers; War


Shrapnel would have burst his head
If he had turned. And he'd be dead.
And we'd be hewing out his name,
And he'd have won eternal fame,
Because a chance, but kindly, shell
Blew his body all to hell.

Instead it only racked his brains,
And left him to endure his pains,
To starve, and suffer in the cold,
And beg his way while growing old,
And made to meet the doubting eye
Of luckier fellows passing by.

"Confounded luck," you'll hear him say,
"Had I but turned my head that day!"





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