 | 'Twixt Kiss and Lip or Under the Sword. By the author of "Women Must Weep," [i.e. F. W. O. Ward] Third edition |  |
KEEP YOUR POWDER DRY.
They say we are far from ready,
With our shaky “thin red line,”
And our ships are only steady,
When the weather-glass is fine;
And we have no proper stations,
That our commerce wide can shield,
For the coal and renovations,
Should a foeman take the field;
Aye, our coats may get a dusting,
Though we are not going to cry,
But in Providence while trusting,
We will keep our powder dry.
With our shaky “thin red line,”
And our ships are only steady,
When the weather-glass is fine;
And we have no proper stations,
That our commerce wide can shield,
For the coal and renovations,
Should a foeman take the field;
Aye, our coats may get a dusting,
Though we are not going to cry,
But in Providence while trusting,
We will keep our powder dry.
They say we have not a notion,
How defenceless is our plight,
And we cannot put in motion
Just one army corps for fight;
And in spite of Derby courses,
If for accidents we count,
We are lacking in the horses
Half our cavalry to mount;
Well, if bayonets come thrusting,
Still our fortune we must try,
Put in Providence our trusting,
While we keep our powder dry.
How defenceless is our plight,
And we cannot put in motion
Just one army corps for fight;
And in spite of Derby courses,
If for accidents we count,
We are lacking in the horses
Half our cavalry to mount;
Well, if bayonets come thrusting,
Still our fortune we must try,
Put in Providence our trusting,
While we keep our powder dry.
They say all our party pleaders,
With their country's honour play,
And we now have not the leaders,
Who can soldiers guide the way;
And our officers though willing,
Have no worthy ordeal stood,
And want numbers and the drilling,
That would make them any good;
Well, if some things need adjusting,
We shall never need to fly,
But in Providence while trusting,
We will keep our powder dry.
With their country's honour play,
And we now have not the leaders,
Who can soldiers guide the way;
And our officers though willing,
Have no worthy ordeal stood,
And want numbers and the drilling,
That would make them any good;
Well, if some things need adjusting,
We shall never need to fly,
But in Providence while trusting,
We will keep our powder dry.
They say, we are bad in shooting,
And may soon their bullets feel,
But with all their talk and tooting,
We will answer with cold steel;
Ah, and if to blows they settle,
As in other times they came,
When we proudly proved our mettle,
Two can always try that game;
And our swords are not for rusting,
We will conquer or can die,
And in Providence go trusting,
While we keep our powder dry.
And may soon their bullets feel,
But with all their talk and tooting,
We will answer with cold steel;
61
As in other times they came,
When we proudly proved our mettle,
Two can always try that game;
And our swords are not for rusting,
We will conquer or can die,
And in Providence go trusting,
While we keep our powder dry.
| 'Twixt Kiss and Lip or Under the Sword. By the author of "Women Must Weep," [i.e. F. W. O. Ward] Third edition | |