The Veterans Parade

[rebel brit]

Going through some old pics I came across this poem photographed ( not very well) at the Crossroads Museum in Corinth in 2010. The words /sentiments just stay with you.

Git me my old knapsack Mary,
An my uniform of gray,
Git my battered helmet Mary,
For I'll need em all today,
Git my canteen and my leggins,
Reach me down my trusty gun,
For I'm goin' out paradin'
With the boys of sixty one.

Now I'm ready, darling, kiss me.
Kiss your old sweetheart good-bye,
Brush aside those wayward tear-drops,
Dear, I did not think you'd cry,
Never mind the blood stain Mary,
Never mind that ragged hole,
They were left there by a bullet,
That was seekin' for my soul,
Just brush off those cobwebs Mary,
Git that bonny flag of blue,
For I'm goin' out paradin'
With the boys of sixty two.

Those old clothes don't fit me Mary,
As they did when I was young,
Don't you recollect how neatly,
To my manly form they clung?
Never mind that sleeve that's empty,
Let it dangle loose and free,
For I'm goin' out paradin'
With the boys of sixty three.

Pull my proud belt tighter Mary,
Fix that strap below my chin,
I've grown old and threadbare Mary,
Like my uniform, and thin,
But I reckon I'll pass muster,
Like I did in day's of yore,
For I'm goin' out paradin'
With the boys of sixty four.

Now I'm ready, kiss me, Mary,
Kiss your old sweetheart good-bye,
Brush aside them wayward tear-drops,
Dear, I did not think you'd cry
I ain't goin' forth to battle,
Cheer up Mary, sakes alive,
For I'm goin' out paradin'
With the boys of sixty five.