Rhymes of a Red Cross Man

<p><SPAN name="link2H_4_0046" id="link2H_4_0046"></SPAN></p> <br/> <h2> My Job </h2> <p>I've got a little job on 'and, the time is drawin' nigh;<br/> At seven by the Captain's watch I'm due to go and do it;<br/> I wants to 'ave it nice and neat, and pleasin' to the eye,<br/> And I 'opes the God of soldier men will see me safely through it.<br/> Because, you see, it's somethin' I 'ave never done before;<br/> And till you 'as experience noo stunts is always tryin';<br/> The chances is I'll never 'ave to do it any more:<br/> At seven by the Captain's watch my little job is . . . <i>DYIN'.</i><br/> <br/> I've got a little note to write; I'd best begin it now.<br/> I ain't much good at writin' notes, but here goes: "Dearest Mother,<br/> I've been in many 'ot old 'do's'; I've scraped through safe some'ow,<br/> But now I'm on the very point of tacklin' another.<br/> A little job of hand-grenades; they called for volunteers.<br/> They picked me out; I'm proud of it; it seems a trifle dicky.<br/> If anythin' should 'appen, well, there ain't no call for tears,<br/> And so . . . I 'opes this finds you well.&mdash;Your werry lovin' Micky."<br/> <br/> I've got a little score to settle wiv them swine out there.<br/> I've 'ad so many of me pals done in it's quite upset me.<br/> I've seen so much of bloody death I don't seem for to care,<br/> If I can only even up, how soon the blighters get me.<br/> I'm sorry for them perishers that corpses in a bed;<br/> I only 'opes mine's short and sweet, no linger-longer-lyin';<br/> I've made a mess of life, but now I'll try to make instead . . .<br/> It's seven sharp. Good-bye, old pals! . . . <i>A DECENT JOB IN DYIN'.</i><br/></p> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />