Lyr Req: The Quitter (Robert Service)

Subject: RE: Name of Robert Service poem
From: Jim McLean
Date: 01 Jul 04 - 03:50 PM

Ake, you're welcome, and thanks for the kind words. He sent poems back to the Paisley Express during the war. He was totally uneducated in the modern sense but read a great deal and wrote some good stuff.

Subject: RE: Name of Robert Service poem
From: Les from Hull
Date: 01 Jul 04 - 02:23 PM

I remember my mate telling me about Robert Service. 'He wrote all them poems that go

Yes I'm going back to the Yukon
'Cos everywhere else is crap...

He died on the French Riviera, you know.'

Subject: RE: Name of Robert Service poem
From: akenaton
Date: 01 Jul 04 - 02:03 PM

Aye Jim ...It made my blood run cold. As good as Bogle at his best.
Your father must have been some man,thanks for posting,Iv printed it off hope you dont mind...Ake

Subject: Lyr Add: A TALE OF THE SAND (Robert D McLean)
From: Jim McLean
Date: 01 Jul 04 - 12:49 PM

Here's poem written by my father when he was a soldier in the last war. It's in a similar vein to the excellent poem by Robert Service.
   
A TALE OF THE SAND.

When you're lying in sand and it's burning hot,
And you dream of the things that you haven't got,
And you know damned well you're in a tough spot,
But you smile and maybe you curse a lot,
It takes guts.

When you're watching the Hellish approaching Hun
And your ammunition is nearly done,
And you know, my friend, you'll never run,
You'll use the bayonet 'till the battle is won,
It takes guts.

When you're watching your comrades dying like flies,
And the sun beats down from coppery skies,
And you know damned well you'll never rise,
You'll gladly die for the flag that flies,
It takes guts.

When you meet the foe and you haven't a chance,
You obey the command and you start to advance,
Copy the old boys what they did in France,
Go to your death without backward glance,
It takes guts.

When your blood is drawing mosquito and fly,
And you know, my lad, you're going to die,
With no one around to wish you goodbye,
'Cept the wild hawk that wheels in the sky,
You've got guts.

You are real heroes all, each one of the crowd,
You're fighting like fiends, you'll never be cowed,
'Though the sand where you lie maybe your shroud
You're the kind that makes Scotland so proud,
You've got guts.

Robert D McLean

Subject: RE: BS: Name of Robert Service poem
From: Jeep man
Date: 01 Jul 04 - 12:05 AM

Thanks, Don. It does help. Thanks, Jim

Subject: RE: BS: Name of Robert Service poem
From: Amos
Date: 01 Jul 04 - 12:00 AM

Dang, hasn't he a handle on it though!! :>))

A

Subject: Lyr Add: THE QUITTER (Robert Service)
From: DonMeixner
Date: 30 Jun 04 - 11:58 PM

The Quitter

When you're lost in the Wild, and you're scared as a child,
        And Death looks you bang in the eye,
And you're sore as a boil, it's according to Hoyle
        To cock your revolver and . . . die.
But the Code of a Man says: "Fight all you can,"
        And self-dissolution is barred.
In hunger and woe, oh, it's easy to blow . . .
        It's the hell-served-for-breakfast that's hard.

"You're sick of the game!" Well, now, that's a shame.
        You're young and you're brave and you're bright.
"You've had a raw deal!" I know -- but don't squeal,
        Buck up, do your damnedest, and fight.
It's the plugging away that will win you the day,
        So don't be a piker, old pard!
Just draw on your grit; it's so easy to quit:
        It's the keeping-your-chin-up that's hard.

It's easy to cry that you're beaten -- and die;
        It's easy to crawfish and crawl;
But to fight and to fight when hope's out of sight --
        Why, that's the best game of them all!
And though you come out of each gruelling bout,
        All broken and beaten and scarred,
Just have one more try -- it's dead easy to die,
        It's the keeping-on-living that's hard.




--- Robert Service

Hope this helps.

Don

Subject: RE: BS: Name of Robert Service poem
From: Jeep man
Date: 30 Jun 04 - 11:47 PM

Correction. Should be CRAWFISH. Jim

Subject: BS: Name of Robert Service poem
From: Jeep man
Date: 30 Jun 04 - 11:32 PM

It's easy to cry when you's beaten and die

It's easy to crawish and crawl

But to fight and to fight when hope's out of sight

Ah thats the best game of all


Folks I have lost tract of the poen by Service where this came from. Any help? Jeep