The fight was done an hour ago: The whole brigade has fallen back, And I've been wand'rin’ to and fro, A-askin’ any — white or black,
‘ Say — have you seen my brother, Jack? His troop was first in the attack!’ I should have seen him here by now: An hour ago the‘ cease fire’ went.
He is n't wounded any'ow, ‘ Cos with the stretcher squads I went, An’ all my other time I've spent A-hangin’ round the doctor's tent.
Among the huddled, fallen men I picked a way across the plain. I got a dozen yards, an’ then Came back for fear I'd turn my brain....
The mangled horrors of the slain! O Christ! I can n't go there again! Say, have you seen my brother Jack? Do n't know! an’ damn you, do n't much care!—
But‘ scuse me, chum, a-talkin’ back, I'm sorter flustered with the glare. These sands are hot, an’ so's the air — Perhaps he's doin’ guard somewhere!
Old mother said before we went, ‘ Be sure you keep him in your sight’ ( Not knowin’ what a campaign meant ). ‘ Do n't let him stay out late o’ night!’ —
I wonder if he funked the fight An’ bolted. O pray God he might! They're layin’ out our dead just now, He can n't be ——, no, that — that ai n't sense,
An’ when he comes there'll be a row! A-keepin’ me in this suspense! ‘ Tis here our line of killed commence, I'll sorter look — for make-pretence!
Pretendin’ some one's here I know — I'm half inclined to turn aback — But one by one, along I go, And see the crimson clottin’ black....
His troop was first in the attack! What! Jack! Is this — this Thing our Jack?
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