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Rudyard Kipling - Columns
Work rating: Low

Out o` the wilderness, dusty an` dry
    (Time, an` `igh time to be trekkin` again!)
Oo is it `eads to the Detail Supply?
  A sectioin, a pompom, an` six `undred men.

`Ere comes the clerk with `is lantern an` keys
   (Time, an `igh time to be trekkin `again!)
" Surplus of everything—draw what you please
  "For the section, the pompom, an` six `unrdred men."

"What are our orders an`  where do we lay? .
  (Time, an `igh time to be trekkin` again!)
"You came after dark—you will leave before day,
  "You section, you pompom, you six` undred men!"

Down the tin street, `alf awake an `unfed,
`Ark to `em blessin` the Gen`ral in bed!

Now by the church an` the outspan they wind—
Over the ridge an` it`s all lef` be`ind
  For the section, etc.

Soon they will camp as the dawn`s growin` grey,
Roll up for coffee an` sleep while they may—
   The section , etc.

Read their `ome letters, their papers an` such,
For they`ll move after dark to astonish the Dutch
  With a section, etc.

`Untin` for shade as the long hours pass—
Blankets on rifles or burrows in grass,
  Lies the section, etc.

Dossin` or beatin` a shirt in the sun,
Watching chameleons or cleanin` a gun,
   Waits the section, etc.

With nothin` but stillness as far as you please,
An` the silly mirage stringin` islands an` seas
 Round the section, etc.

So they strips off their hide an` they grills in their bones,
Till the shadows crawl out from beneath the pore stones
   Toward the section, etc.

An` the Mauser-bird stops an` the jacals begin
A the `orse-guard comes up  and the Gunners `ook in
   As a `int the pompom an` six `undred men  .   .   .   .

 Off  through the dark with the stars to rely on—-
 (Alpha Centauri an` somethin` Orion)
    Moves the section, etc.

 Same bloomin` `ole which the ant-bear `as broke,
 Same bloomin` stumble an` same bloomin` joke
    Down the section, etc.

 Same "which is right?" where the cart-tracks divide,
 Same "give it up" from the same clever guide
    To the section, etc.

Same tumble-down on the same `idden farm,
Same white-eyed Kaffir `oo gives the alarm—
   Of the section, etc.

Same shootin` wild at the end o` the night,
Same flyin`-tackle an` same messy fight,
   By the section, etc.

Same ugly `iccup an` same `orrid squeal,
When it`s too dark to see an` it`s too late to feel
   In the section, etc.

 (Same batch of prisoners, `airy an` still,
 Watchin` their comrades bolt over the `ill
    From the section, etc.)

 Same chilly glare in the eye of the sun
 As `e gets up displeasured to see what was done
    By the section, etc.

Same splash o` pink on the stoep or the kraal,
An` the same quiet face which `as finished with all
  In the section, the pompom, an` six `undred men.

Out o` the wilderness, dusty an` dry
(Time, an` `igh time to be trekkin` again!)
` Oo is it `eads to the Detail Supply ?
  A section, a pompom, an `six` `undred men.
Source
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