Easy does it — bit o' trench 'ere, <br />Mind that blinkin' bit o' wire, <br />There's a shell 'ole on your left there, <br />Lift 'im up a little 'igher. <br />Stick it, lad, ye'll soon be there now, <br />Want to rest 'ere for a while? <br />Let 'im dahn then — gently — gently, <br />There ye are, lad. That's the style. <br />Want a drink, mate? 'Ere's my bottle, <br />Lift 'is 'ead up for 'im, Jack, <br />Put my tunic underneath 'im, <br />'Ow's that, chummy? That's the tack! <br />Guess we'd better make a start now, <br />Ready for another spell? <br />Best be goin', we won't 'urt ye, <br />But 'e might just start to shell. <br />Are ye right, mate? Off we goes then. <br />That's well over on the right, <br />Gawd Almighty, that's a near 'un! <br />'Old your end up good and tight, <br />Never mind, lad, you're for Blighty, <br />Mind this rotten bit o' board. <br /> <br />We'll soon 'ave ye tucked in bed, lad, <br />'Opes ye gets to my old ward. <br />No more war for you, my 'earty, <br />This'll get ye well away, <br />Twelve good months in dear old Blighty, <br />Twelve good months if you're a day, <br />M.O.'s got a bit o' something <br />What'll stop that blarsted pain. <br />'Ere's a rotten bit o' ground, mate, <br />Lift up 'igher — up again, <br />Wish 'e'd stop 'is blarsted shellin' <br />Makes it rotten for the lad. <br />When a feller's been and got it, <br />It affec's 'im twice as bad. <br />'Ow's it goin' now then, sonny? <br />'Ere's that narrow bit o' trench, <br />Careful, mate, there's some dead Jerries, <br />Lawd Almighty, what a stench! <br />'Ere we are now, stretcher-case, boys, <br />Bring him aht a cup o' tea! <br />Inasmuch as ye have done it <br />Ye have done it unto Me.<br /><br />Geoffrey Anketell Studdert Kennedy<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/to-stretcher-bearers/
