POETRY OLD AND NEW.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16202, 12 April 1916, Page 10

POETRY OLD AND NEW.

OBJECTIONS CONSCIENTIOUS. Fight on, bravo comrades, and do your bitAye, and do a bit for mo; For although I'm young and strong and fit, I must not fight because you see I've objeetions conscientious! The Huns are ferocious, vicious foes; Go, tnen, slash 'cm hip and thigh I There's pnceloss comfort when ono knows That you are never hindered by Objections conscientious. Fight on, good chums! At all coats defend Uur mothers and our sisters; For on you, of course, they must dependNot on peaceful non-resisters, With objections conscientious. Ah I how wise of Nature to provide , Some men with conscience—some without; We'vo aims and tastes diversified— You're built to fight; I'm raised devout With objections conscientious. When you're in battle, pray think of me Left in England and sore distressed; Yearning to help, if only freeBut cabined, thwarted, and oppressed With objections conscientious. It will solace yoi to bear in mind, When in slush nd blood you're swimipin' That I'm cheering those you left behind— The children and the women— With objections conscientious. BucV up and conquer, ye sons of Mars, And Ret back soon; then you and I Will talk and count your wounds and scars; You'll love to chat concerning my Objections conscientious. SusKi Slacker, Middlesex. WHAT TOMMY SINGS. The songs that are sung by soldier men In trench, and camp, and field. May not bo works of purest art, But great is the joy they yield. They go with a lilt to the marching feet, As the khaki lads swing onThey sing not of glory, or Britain's pride, Or deathless laurels won, But of " Tipporary," and a girl they love, Far from the sound, of the gun. When the Hun sits listening in his trench To the songs across the way, He hears no praise of the Motherland, Nor bluster about "Tho Day"; And it is not a blatant " Hymn of Hate" That over the trench they send, But "Hold out your hand, you naughty boy," And " Who, who's your lady friond?" For tho songs that are sung by oar soldier men Havo nothing to do with war; But just such songs as they sing at home, Which shows us the men they are. Not bitter hate, or lust of blood, Not these to the light they brine, ■ But a prayer somotimes, yid a joke on the lips, , x As shown in the songs they sing. * When the cloud rolls back, and comus the time Of smiling, peaceful years, The songs they have sung as soldier men Shall fill thoir eyes witn tears. Treasured the careless lilts they sang 'Mid the time of stress and strife, Tender with memory of comrades gone, Sacred to death and life. They shall tell their tales by the winter fire To sons and grandsons young, And their quavering voicos shall rise again In the chant of the songs they sung, Ethbi, Kidsojt, in The Choir.