HomeRudyard KiplingCells

Cells. Rudyard Kipling

I′ve a head like a concertina: I′ve a tongue like a button-stick,
I′ve a mouth like an old potato, and I′m more than a little sick,
But I′ve had my fun o′ the Corp′ral′s Guard: I′ve made the cinders fly,
And I′m here in the Clink for a thundering drink and blacking the Corporal′s eye.
With a second-hand overcoat under my head,
And a beautiful view of the yard,
 O it′s pack-drill for me and a fortnight′s C.B.
For "drunk and resisting the Guard!"
Mad drunk and resisting the Guard,
′Strewth, but I socked it them hard!
 So it′s pack-drill for me and a fortnight′s C.B.
For "drunk and resisting the Guard."
 
I started o′ canteen porter, I finished o′ canteen beer,
But a dose o′ gin that a mate slipped in, it was that that brought me here.
′Twas that and an extry double Guard that rubbed my nose in the dirt,
But I fell away with the Corp′ral′s stock and the best of the Corp′ral′s shirt.
 
I left my cap in a public-house, my boots in the public road,
And Lord knows where, and I don′t care, my belt and my tunic goed;
They′ll stop my pay, they′ll cut away the stripes I used to wear,
But I left my mark on the Corp′ral′s face, and I think he′ll keep it there!
 
My wife she cries on the barrack-gate, my kid in the barrack-yard,
It ain′t that I mind the Ord′ly room, it′s that that cuts so hard.
I′ll take my oath before them both that I will sure abstain,
But as soon as I′m in with a mate and gin, I know I′ll do it again!
With a second-hand overcoat under my head,
And a beautiful view of the yard,
 Yes, it′s pack-drill for me and a fortnight′s C.B.
For "drunk and resisting the Guard!"
Mad drunk and resisting the Guard,
′Strewth, but I socked it them hard!
 So it′s pack-drill for me and a fortnight′s C.B.
For "drunk and resisting the Guard."

Next →


Thank you for reading Rudyard Kipling "Cells"!
Read Rudyard Kipling
Main page


© e-libr.com
feedback