The Humourous Poetry of the English Language

325
And so it is with all
The warriors ranged in line,
With lace bedizened fine
And swords gold-hilted--
Yon lusty corporal,
Yon color-man who gripes
The flag of Stars and Stripes--
Has each been jilted?
Come, each man of this line,
The privates strong and tall,
"The pioneers and all,"
The fifer nimble--
Lieutenant and Ensign,
Captain with epaulets,
And Blacky there, who beats
The clanging cymbal--
O cymbal-beating black,
Tell us, as thou canst feel,
Was it some Lucy Neal
Who caused thy ruin?
O nimble fifing Jack,
And drummer making din
So deftly on the skin,
With thy rat-tattooing.
Confess, ye volunteers,
Lieutenant and Ensign,
And Captain of the line,
As bold as Roman--
Confess, ye grenadiers,
However strong and tall,
The Conqueror of you all
Is Woman, Woman!
No corselet is so proof,
But through it from her bow,
The shafts that she can throw
Will pierce and rankle.
No champion e'er so tough,