Empire Builders Poem : Songs of the Road Poetry by Arthur Conan Doyle

Songs of the Road Poetry

Empire Builders Poem

by

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Empire Builders Poem

Captain Temple, D.S.O.,
With his banjo and retriever.
“Rough, I know, on poor old Flo,
But, by Jove! I couldn’t leave her.”
Niger ribbon on his breast,
In his blood the Niger fever,
Captain Temple, D.S.O.,
With his banjo and retriever.

Cox of the Politicals,
With his cigarette and glasses,
Skilled in Pushtoo gutturals,
Odd-job man among the Passes,
Keeper of the Zakka Khels,
Tutor of the Khaiber Ghazis,
Cox of the Politicals,
With his cigarette and glasses.

Mr. Hawkins, Junior Sub.,
Late of Woolwich and Thames Ditton,
Thinks his battery the hub
Of the whole wide orb of Britain.
Half a hero, half a cub,
Lithe and playful as a kitten,
Mr. Hawkins, Junior Sub.,
Late of Woolwich and Thames Ditton.

Eighty Tommies, big and small,
Grumbling hard as is their habit.
“Say, mate, what’s a Bunerwal?”
“Sometime like a bloomin’ rabbit.”
“Got to hoof it to Chitral!”
“Blarst ye, did ye think to cab it!”
Eighty Tommies, big and small,
Grumbling hard as is their habit.

Swarthy Goorkhas, short and stout,
Merry children, laughing, crowing,
Don’t know what it’s all about,
Don’t know any use in knowing;
Only know they mean to go
Where the Sirdar thinks of going.
Little Goorkhas, brown and stout,
Merry children, laughing, crowing.

Funjaub Rifles, fit and trim,
Curly whiskered sons of battle,
Very dignified and prim
Till they hear the Jezails rattle;
Cattle thieves of yesterday,
Now the wardens of the cattle,
Fighting Brahmins of Lahore,
Curly whiskered sons of battle.

Up the winding mountain path
See the long-drawn column go;
Himalayan aftermath
Lying rosy on the snow.
Motley ministers of wrath
Building better than they know,
In the rosy aftermath
Trailing upward to the snow.

Songs of the Road Poetry

I. — Songs of the Road Narrative Verses And Songs
A Hymn Of Empire Poem
Sir Nigel’s Song Poem
The Arab Steed Poem
A Post-Impressionist Poem
Empire Builders Poem
The Groom’s Encore Poem
The Bay Horse Poem
The Outcasts Poem
The End Poem
1902-1909 Poem
The Wanderer Poem
Bendy’s Sermon Poem

II. — Songs of the Road Philosophic Verses
Compensation Poem
The Banner Of Progress Poem
Hope Poem
Religio Medici Poem
Man’s Limitation Poem
Mind And Matter Poem
Darkness Poem

III — Songs of the Road Miscellaneous Verses
A Woman’s Love Poem
By The North Sea Poem
December’s Snow Poem
Shakespeare’s Expostulation Poem
The Empire Poem
A Voyage Poem
The Orphanage Poem
Sexagenarius Loquitur Poem
Night Voices Poem
The Message Poem
The Echo Poem
Advice To A Young Author Poem
A Lilt Of The Road Poem

Songs of the Road Poetry

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