_They_’ll never know the shame that brands-- Black shame no livin’ down makes white, The mockin’ from the sentry-stands, The women’s laugh, the gaoler’s spite. _We_ are too bloomin’ much polite, But that is ’ow I’d ’ave us be... Since I ’ave learned at Waterval The meanin’ of captivity.
They’ll get those draggin’ days all right, Spent as a foreigner commands, An’ ’orrors of the locked-up night, With ’Ell’s own thinkin’ on their ’ands. I’d give the gold o’ twenty Rands (If it was mine) to set ’em free ... For I ’ave learned at Waterval The meanin’ of captivity!
I do not love my Empire’s foes, Nor call ’em angels; still, What _is_ the sense of ’atin’ those ’Oom you are paid to kill? So, barrin’ all that foreign lot Which only joined for spite, Myself, I’d just as soon as not Respect the man I fight. Ah there, Piet!--’is trousies to ’is knees, ’Is coat-tails lyin’ level in the bullet-sprinkled breeze; ’E does not lose ’is rifle an’ ’e does not lose ’is seat, I’ve known a lot o’ people ride a dam’ sight worse than Piet!
I’ve ’eard ’im cryin’ from the ground Like Abel’s blood of old, An’ skirmished out to look, an’ found The beggar nearly cold; I’ve waited on till ’e was dead (Which couldn’t ’elp ’im much), But many grateful things ’e’s said To me for doin’ such. Ah there, Piet! whose time ’as come to die, ’Is carcase past rebellion, but ’is eyes inquirin’ why. Though dressed in stolen uniform with badge o’ rank complete, I’ve known a lot o’ fellers go a dam’ sight worse than Piet.
An’ when there wasn’t aught to do But camp and cattle-guards, I’ve fought with ’im the ’ole day through At fifteen ’undred yards; Long afternoons o’ lyin’ still, An’ ’earin’ as you lay The bullets swish from ’ill to ’ill Like scythes among the ’ay. Ah there, Piet!--be’ind ’is stony kop, With ’is Boer bread an’ biltong, an’ ’is flask of awful Dop; ’Is Mauser for amusement an’ ’is pony for retreat, I’ve known a lot o’ fellers shoot a dam’ sight worse than Piet.
He’s shoved ’is rifle ’neath my nose Before I’d time to think, An’ borrowed all my Sunday clo’es An’ sent me ’ome in pink; An’ I ’ave crept (Lord, ’ow I’ve crept!) On ’ands an’ knees I’ve gone, And spoored and floored and caught and kept An’ sent him to Ceylon! Ah there, Piet!--you’ve sold me many a pup, When week on week alternate it was you an’ me ‘’ands up!’ But though I never made _you_ walk man-naked in the ’eat, I’ve known a lot of fellows stalk a dam’ sight worse than Piet.