Tommie Atkins

SHRIEKING and swinging legs, astride
On his native fence, the Cockney cried:
'Fee faw fum! beware of me!
I am the Lord of Land and Sea! '

Out on the fields, where day and night
The weary warriors strove in fight,
They paused a space to gaze upon
The moat-surrounded fence, — his throne!

And while they heard that war-cry float
From the smug Cockney's raucous throat,
'Come off the fence,' they cried, 'and share
The brunt of battle, if you dare! ' H,

Yet still they heard him shriek and brag
Waving a little schoolboy's Flag,
And angry at his martial mien
They tried to hoot him from the scene!

'Ho ho! ' he said, ' if that's your plan,
I'll teach you I'm an Englishman! —
Here, Tommie Atkins, — take your foe, —
Go fight these knaves who flout at me! '

Poor Tonwnie Atkins waiting stood,
And heard his master's cry for blood,
Then held out hand to take his pay,
And drew his sword, and sprang away!

All day the bloody strife was wrought,
The Cockney shriek'd, while Tommie fought.
Night came, the foe were driven away, —
But Tommie Atkins dying lay.

'Tommie, what cheer? ' the Cockney said;
Poor Tommie raised his bleeding head, —
'You've lick'd them, sir! ' poor Tommie cried,
And slowly droop'd his head, and died!

Still on his fence the Cockney swings,
Loud in the air the war-cry rings,
And still, in answer to his cries,
Poor Tommie Atkins bleeds and dies.