We’re not stayin’ dinner, thank you.  Lie
   along yer horse ‘n’ yell,
While the bullets pip yer britches ‘n’ you
   sniff the flue of Hell. 
Here it is that Artie takes it good ‘n’ solid in
   the crust,
He dives from out the saddle, ‘n’ is swallered
   in the dust.

I got through ‘n’ saw them pointin’ where the
   Marshal faced the band. 
He was goin’ where we came from, sniffin’
   bodies in the sand. 
Till he found Rowe snugglin’ under, took him
   where his pants was slack,
‘N’ be all the Asiatic gods, he brought his
   soldier back!

With a bullet in his buttock, ‘n’ a drill hole
   in his ear,
He dumped Artie down among us.  Square
   ‘n’ all, how did we cheer! 
There’s no medals struck fer neddies, but we
   rule there orter be,
‘N’ the pride iv all the Light Horse is old
   Marshal Neigh, V.C.

IN HOSPITAL.

It is thirty moons since I slung me hook
   From the job at the hay and corn,
Took me solemn oath, ‘n’ I straight forsook
All the ways of life, dinkum ways ‘n’ crook,
‘N’ the things on which it was good to look
   Since the day when a bloke was born.

I was give a gun, ‘n’ a bay’net bright,
   ‘N’ a ’ell of a swag iv work,
N’ I dipped my lid to the big pub light,
To the ole push cobbers I give “Good-night!”
Slipped a kiss to ’er, ‘n’ I wings me flight
   For a date with the demon Turk.

Ez we pricked our heel to the skitin’ drum. 
   Square ‘n’ all, I was gone a mile. 
With a perky air, ‘n’ a ’eart ez glum
Ez a long-dead cod, I was blind ‘n’ dumb,
Holdin’ do the tear that was bound to come
   At a word or a friendly smile.

Now I’ve seen it all, I may come out dead,
   But I ’ope never more a fool. 
I have scorched, ‘n’ thirsted, ‘n’ froze, ‘n’
      bled,
‘N’ bin taught the use of the human head,
For when all is done ‘n’ when all is said,
   War’s a wonderful sort of school.

I’ve bin taught to get ’em ‘n’ never fret,
   ‘N’ to sleep without dreamin’ when
We have swarmed a slope with the red rain wet;
I ’ave learned a pile, ‘n’ I’m learnin’ yet;
But the thing I’ve learned that I won’t forget
   Is a way of not judgin’ men.

We was shot down there in a dirty place—­
   From the mansions ‘n’ huts we’d come—­
‘N’ of all the welter the ’ardest case
Was a little swine with a dimpled face,
Who a year ago was dispensin’ lace
   In a Carlton em-por-ee-um.

In the moochin’ days of me giddy youth,
   When I kidded meself a treat,
I’d have pass him one ez a gooey.  ’Strewth
On the track iv Huns, he’s a eight-day sleuth,
‘N’ at tearin’ into ’em nail ‘n’ tooth
   He’s got Julius Caesar beat!

I ain’t proud with him ; ‘n’ I’m modest, too,
   When dividin’ a can of swill
With a Algy boy from the wilds iv Kew. 
Cos I do not know what the cow will do
When a Fritzy offers to sock me through;
   ‘N’ it’s good to be livin’ still.