Notes About The Poem
In this poem I have endeavoured to follow some of the things I found in a few of Kipling's poems. Namely, internal rhyming and the use of differing stress patterns in the same poem. I did not look into it too deeply, but in some poems he alternates between iambic and anapestic, perhaps with a line or two of the obverse. I have attempted to emulate that with limited success. My personal preference is toward the anapestic verses I wrote.
The 'Undred An' Fifth
The 'Undred an' Fifth is the greatest o' Britain,
They charge like the Royal Marines;
They'll shatter the shock, and they'll 'old like a rock,
On nothin' but pork leg an' beans.
They march by the mile, an' they step 'er in style;
At 'ome by the land 'r the sea.
They'll fight like a lion, an' die for the tryin',
For nothin' save crackers an' tea.
Aye! the 'Undred an' Fifth is the best in the land;
They 'ave trampled the gates o' Chardaux.
Brave for the fight, they 'll sail to the sand,
An' they'll march till they meet wi' the foe!
The 'Undred an' Fifth, yes the best o' the best;
They 'ud conquer the ends o' the world.
Not taking a rest, they are game for the test,
Till the Jack o' the Brits is unfurled.
The 'Undred an' Fifth is the greatest forever;
They'll cross any line in the sand.
When others 'ave failed, an' the reg'lars 'ave bailed,
Then the Fifth o' the 'Undreds 'll stand!
They stand in a rank, an' they march in a file,
They 'ark to an ol' rusty sot:
They serve for the Queen, as they camp o'er the mile;
They're the greatest that Britain 'as got!
~ Inspired by Kipling's "Soldier an' Sailor Too".
~ See About Poem for more.
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