Classic and Contemporary Poetry
RECRUITING SONG, by MICHAEL FOSTER (20TH CENTURY) First Line: If you can keep your head when all about you Last Line: And which is more you're welcome to it, son! Subject(s): Kipling, Rudyard (1865-1936); Military Recruitment | ||||||||
If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and aiming things at you; If you can leave a class to work without you And guarantee they'll keep hard at it, too; If you can mark and not grow tired of marking, Of counting money, writing your Reports; If you can stand the end-of-term sky-larking, And still have spirit left to watch the Sports; If you can talk, nor lose your voice with talking, Give punishments without a biased mind; If you can stop an idle mob from squawking At every doubtful meaning they can find; If you can dream and not make dreams your master; Or talk with Heads nor lose the common touch; If you can save your subject from disaster By tactfully not plugging it too much; If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken Twisted and laughed at by moronic fools; If you're prepared to watch equipment broken By 'scholars' who have scant regard for rules; If you can fill the unforgiving minute With ninety seconds' worth of distance run, Teaching's for you, and everything that's in it, And which is more you're welcome to it, son! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...PEACE AND WAR by ELIZABETH SEWELL HILL A FINE SUMMER MORNING by CARROLL RYAN CAMP ECHOES by MARGARET ELIZABETH MUNSON SANGSTER MIDNIGHT ON THE GREAT WESTERN by THOMAS HARDY SONNET: 5 by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE |
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