HOW stands the glass around? For shame, ye take no care, my boys, How stands the glass around? Let mirth and wine abound. The trumpets sound! The colours flying are, my boys, To fight, kill, or wound: May we still be found Content with our hard fare, my boys, On the cold ground. Why, soldiers, why Should we be melancholy, boys, Why, soldiers, why? Whose business 'tis to die? What! sighing? fie! Damn fear, drink on, be jolly, boys, 'Tis he, you or I: Cold, hot, wet, or dry, We're always bound to follow boys And scorn to fly. 'Tis but in vain, (I mean not to upbraid you, boys) 'Tis but in vain For soldiers to complain: Should next campaign Send us to Him that made you, boys, We're free from pain; But should we remain, A bottle and kind landlady Cures all again! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TO A YOUNG BEAUTY by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS SONNETS FROM THE PORTUGUESE: 21 by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING ELEGY IN A COUNTRY CHURCHYARD by GILBERT KEITH CHESTERTON ALL THIS by REBA MAXWELL AVERY THEN AND NOW by LOUISA SARAH BEVINGTON RENEWAL by KATHERINE HARRIS BRADLEY THE LOST BOWER by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING |