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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
DENNIS, by CHARLOTTE BECKER Poet's Biography First Line: Such a 'ootin' an' a 'owlin' Last Line: Then went back to bein' queer! Subject(s): Heroism; War; Heroes; Heroines | |||
Such a 'ootin' an' a 'owlin', At the good ole "Ball an' Crown," When we 'eard 'ow daffy Dennis 'Ad enlisted in the town. "'E won't know 'e's 'ad an order"; "'E carn't never 'old a gun"; "'E'll be dropped for actin' crazy 'Fore 'e ever sees a 'Un." Dennis was a feckless dreamer, Tried to rhyme a bit, ye ken, Moonin' 'round, not up an' doin' Like our brawny Sussex men. 'Ow we mocked an' joked about 'im, Seemed so sure 'e'd bring us shame That we 'ardly grasped what 'appened, When the Corp'ral's letter came. In a 'ot an' tricky battle, When 'ope petered out, 'e said, Out o' 'alf a 'undred gunners Dennis 'ad the coolest 'ead; 'Ow 'is darin' saved 'is batt'ry, 'Ow 'is pluck kept up 'is crowd, 'Ow the Gen'ral pinned 'is Cross on, Sayin' England should be proud. Such a shoutin' an' a 'owlin', At the good ole "Ball an' Crown," When our Dennis on a furlough 'Obbled up 'ere from the town; Same ole blinkin', moonin' Dennis, Didn't even 'ear us cheer -- Just woke up to be a 'ero, Then went back to bein' queer! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE CONFESSION OF ST. JIM-RALPH by DENIS JOHNSON NOTES FOR AN ELEGY by WILLIAM MEREDITH THE EROTICS OF HISTORY by EAVAN BOLAND A SONG FOR HEROES by EDWIN MARKHAM AFTER THE BROKEN ARM by RON PADGETT PRELUDE; FOR GEOFFREY GORER by EDITH SITWELL EXAMINATION OF THE HERO IN A TIME OF WAR by WALLACE STEVENS |
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