Barrack-room Ballads

Rudyard Kipling

     When 'Omer smote 'is bloomin' lyre,
      He'd 'eard men sing by land an' sea;
     An' what he thought 'e might require,
      'E went an' took -- the same as me!
 
     The market-girls an' fishermen,
      The shepherds an' the sailors, too,
     They 'eard old songs turn up again,
       But kep' it quiet -- same as you!
 
     They knew 'e stole; 'e knew they knowed.
      They didn't tell, nor make a fuss,
     But winked at 'Omer down the road,
      An' 'e winked back -- the same as us!

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