Panama and Other Poems Narrative and Occasional By Stephen Phillips: With a Frontispiece by Joseph Pennell |
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THE SEASIDE-KNUT |
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 | Panama and Other Poems Narrative and Occasional |  |
104
THE SEASIDE-KNUT
I met a trouser-wearing shape
A-strolling by the sea.
I said to him: “Will you enlist?”
But he replied: “Not me!
A-strolling by the sea.
I said to him: “Will you enlist?”
But he replied: “Not me!
“I know a trick worth two of that.”
I said to him: “Why not?”
“For many reasons,” answered he,
“The climate is too hot.
I said to him: “Why not?”
“For many reasons,” answered he,
“The climate is too hot.
“It cuts into one's evening so
To be obliged to fight;
And then one wears such heavy boots,
And I prefer mine light.
To be obliged to fight;
And then one wears such heavy boots,
And I prefer mine light.
“And then they make a beastly noise,
The bullet and the shell;
I'd rather hear ‘The Circus Girl,’
They play it here quite well.”
The bullet and the shell;
I'd rather hear ‘The Circus Girl,’
They play it here quite well.”
105
“But if,” I said, “all English youths
Were in your way inclined?”
“Whether they are or not,” said he,
“I really shouldn't mind.
Were in your way inclined?”
“Whether they are or not,” said he,
“I really shouldn't mind.
“I'm going now to have a drink,
A little sherbet hot;
Perhaps you'd split a bun with me,
Or would you rather not?
A little sherbet hot;
Perhaps you'd split a bun with me,
Or would you rather not?
“The Lyons' place is very good,
Quite like a ‘lion's den.’”
He smiled, then yawned: “It's time for bed;
D'you know, it's nearly ten!”
Quite like a ‘lion's den.’”
He smiled, then yawned: “It's time for bed;
D'you know, it's nearly ten!”
And though a girl presented him
With a white feather, he
Seemed pleased. “It makes a change,” he said,
“In button-holes, you see!”
With a white feather, he
Seemed pleased. “It makes a change,” he said,
“In button-holes, you see!”
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