“THE RUDDY-YAP OF OMAR THE AIRMAN.”

Erk's Work, 1 February 1941, Page 13

“THE RUDDY-YAP OF OMAR THE AIRMAN.”

Awake ! for Vincent in the dusk of night Has made a drone that puts my sleep to flight: And lo! the pilot of the plane has caught The full blast of fury of my wretched plight. Dreaming when that pilot’s plane was in the sky, I heard a voice within the canteen cry, “Drink up, my hearties, and fill the jug, Before the vintage in the kegs go dry.” And, as the bell rang, those who stood before The canteen shouted: “Open, then, the door! You know how little time we have to stay, And, once we’ve sampled may return no more.” Now the full moon stimulating old desires, The pious airman to the shower retires, Where the water from the spray cools his ardour— But his mind perspires. Airman indeed I am with all my pose, With a ring-sleeved tunic—well, who knows; But still the plane her power will yield, And still this drone by the river grows. The pilot’s lips are locked; he’s in a jamn; High-minded passenger cries “Damn, damn, damn.” “Godam the passenger,” cries the ace, “Here’s where 1 join my own ancestral clan.” Come, fill the tank, and on the morn of Spring, The Junkers, Messerschmitt our guns to fling: This bird of mine has but a little way To fly-—-and lo—we are on his wing. And look—a thousand sky-birds with the day Awoke —and a thousand scattered in the bay: And this great squadron that brought them down, Shall take Goering, Goebbels and Hitler away. But come with our airman and leave the lot Of Goering, Goebbels and Hitler forgot: Let Mussie lay about him as he will, Or Japan cry, “Pardon” —heed them not.