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1872–1931

OUR JOB

Everard Jack Appleton

You must n't hate the enemy — that wastes a lot of “pep” — The Colonel passed the word around the training camp to-day. The Captain says with modern war we gotta all catch step; “Cut out the rough-necked rage and talk, and do n't you think or say:

“‘ Pirates, rapists, murderers; poisoners and lying thieves; Super-vandals, run amuck — black devils quoting sermons; This world was mostly Heaven-made, our Chaplain, he believes; But Hell itself conceived and spawned the Military Germans!

“The enemy is good at killing kids, and old folks, too; Torpedoing hospital ships and blowin’ up our plants; But cogitatin’ on their line of wicked things wo n't do; We'll never hate‘ em off the map — just give the guns a chance!”

So we do n't go in for loathin’, and with anger we do n't burn; We're drillin’, and we're diggin’, and we're workin’ all the while; To put‘ er in the target is the trick we hafter learn — And ev'ry man's a better shot when he can shoot — and smile!

The folks at home will spend their time a-broodin’ over all The nasty devils do and on the details they can dwell; It's up to us to learn this game, and then — when comes the call — Pump lead into the enemy — and send him back to hell.

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OUR JOB · Everard Jack Appleton · Poetry Cove