Down to it is Plugger Bill, <br />Lyin' crumpled, white 'n' still. <br />Me 'n' him <br />Chips in when the scrap begins, <br />Carin' nothin' for our skins, <br />Chi-iked as the 'Eavenly Twins- <br />Bill 'n' Jim. <br /> <br />They 'ave outed Bill at last, <br />Slugged me cobber hard 'n' fast. <br />It's a kill. <br />See the purple of his lip <br />'N' the red 'n' oozy drip! <br />Ends our great ole partnership- <br />Jim 'n' Bill <br /> <br />Mates we was when we was kids; <br />Camp, 'n' ship, 'n' Pyramids, <br />Him 'n' me <br />Hung together, 'n' we tore <br />Up the heights from Helles shore, <br />Bill a long 'arf head afore, <br />Fine to see! <br /> <br />Then it was we took a touch- <br />Simple puncture, nothin' much; <br />But we lay <br />'N' we stays the count, it seems, <br />In a sorter realm of dreams <br />Where the sun infernal gleams <br />Night 'n' day; <br /> <br />Boilin', fryin' achin', dumb, <br />Waitin' till the stretchers come, <br />Patiently. <br />I hangs on to 'arf a cup. <br />Which I wants ole Bill to sup. <br />Damn if he ain't savin' up <br />His for me! <br /> <br />When they come to lift my head <br />I am softly kiddin' dead, <br />For a game, <br />So's they'll first take on his gills. <br />Over, though, me scheme he spills- <br />Bli'me, this ole take-down Bill's <br />Done the same! <br /> <br />But he isn't kiddin' now, <br />And it knocks me anyhow <br />Seein' him. <br />We was both agreed before, <br />Though it got 'em by the score, <br />Two was goin' to beat this war- <br />But 'n' Jim. <br /> <br />Mate o' mine, yiv stayed it through. <br />Hard luck, Bill-for me 'n' you <br />Hard 'n' grim. <br />They have got me Cobber true, <br />But I'm stickin' tight ez glue…. <br />Bill, there's one who'll plug for two- <br />It is Jim!<br /><br />Edward George Dyson<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/billjim/
