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Edward Dyson - Out Of Khaki
Work rating: Low

I slung me khaki suit to-day. 
   Civilian now front heel to chin 
   I `op round on a single shin; 
At home in peace I`m bound to stay. 
`N` so they`ve took me duds away. 
   It `urt like strippin` off me skin! 

I put it on three years ago, 
   The ole brown rig. There wasn`t then 
   A prouder chicken in the pen. 
Jist twenty turned, me nibs you`d know 
For how I give me chest a throw, 
   A man among the best of men. 

Me little no the touch I give, 
   Me chin`s ez solid ez a rock, 
   `N` level with the Town `All clock, 
A five-inch grin across me chiv. 
“Lor` love us, this is how to live,” 
   Sez I, `n` felt I owned the Block. 

Glad eyes was ever on the lurk, 
   `N` little `earts was thumpin` warm 
   For nippers trainin` with the swarm 
To swat ole Kaiser Bill, or work 
A toe-hold on the heathen Turk. 
   Fair dink, I loved the uniform! 

I soused mine in the brine that day 
   When Tophet spilt, `n` in the roar 
   Of shells that split the sea `n` tore 
Our boats to chips, we broke any 
Up through the pelt of leaden spray, 
   `N` got our first real taste of war. 

They shot me tunic all to rags; 
   Then in the perpendic`lar spree 
   Me trousers wore off to the knee. 
The right-abouts of many bags 
Was ground off in the dust `n` crags 
   A-sittin` in Gallipoli. 

I wore the khaki on the Somme- 
   Most time `twas jist a coat of mud; 
   I once come through the battle scud 
Stripped mother-naked by a bomb; 
`N` once it` took its color from 
   Me own `n` one good cobber`s blood. 

They cheered the khaki through the street 
   When we come home with pipers gay, 
   But now I`m jist a bloke in grey. 
Harf-lost, lob-sided, incomplete, 
It`s nothin` but me spook you`ll meet, 
   Ghost-walkin` in the light o` day.
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