Drawing by Judith Wolfe
Anon

Poem


      Tough Guy, Drunken Airman

      To his commanding officer who threatens to put him in the cooler:

      I'm part alligator, and part
      horse. When I walk, thunder and
      lightning run along
      at my heels like puppies and
      when I blow my breath
      orchards wither.

      I can stand on tiptoe and
      snatch the Boche out of the
      sky, with my bare hands.

      If you don't shut up and let
      me go to bed, I'll cut your guts up
      into insulation for ignition cables and
      paint Indian signs on my
      fuselage
      With your blood.

      Happiness

      To day I feel so happy so happy
      So happy
      I don't know why I'm happy
      I only know I am
      walking on air singing an
      air treading on air
      To day I feel so happy.

      Both anon, probably written during 1914-1918 Great War. Found written in book: Appleby's Handbook of Machinery, Section II, Hoisting Machinery. Published 1897.


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