<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="" class="head">Recruiting</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line">" LADS, you're wanted, go and help,"</p><p class="line">On the railway carriage wall</p><p class="line">Stuck the poster, and I thought</p><p class="line">Of the hands that penned the call.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Fat civilians wishing they</p><p class="line">" Could go out and fight the Hun."</p><p class="line">Can't you see them thanking God</p><p class="line">That they're over forty-one?</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Girls with feathers, vulgar songs--</p><p class="line">Washy verse on England's need--</p><p class="line">God--and don't we damned well know</p><p class="line">How the message ought to read.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">" Lads, you're wanted! over there,"</p><p class="line">Shiver in the morning dew,</p><p class="line">More poor devils like yourselves</p><p class="line">Waiting to be killed by you.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Go and help to swell the names</p><p class="line">In the casualty lists.</p><p class="line">Help to make a column's stuff</p><p class="line">For the blasted journalists.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Help to keep them nice and safe</p><p class="line">From the wicked German foe.</p><p class="line">Don't let him come over here!</p><p class="line">" Lads, you're wanted--out you go."</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">There's a better word than that,</p><p class="line">Lads, and can't you hear it come</p><p class="line">From a million men that call</p><p class="line">You to share their martyrdom.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Leave the harlots still to sing</p><p class="line">Comic songs about the Hun,</p><p class="line">Leave the fat old men to say</p><p class="line">Now <em>we've</em> got them on the run.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Better twenty honest years</p><p class="line">Than their dull three score and ten.</p><p class="line">Lads, you're wanted. Come and learn</p><p class="line">To live and die with honest men.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">You shall learn what men can do</p><p class="line">If you will but pay the price,</p><p class="line">Learn the gaiety and strength</p><p class="line">In the gallant sacrifice.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Take your risk of life and death</p><p class="line">Underneath the open sky.</p><p class="line">Live clean or go out quick--</p><p class="line">Lads, you're wanted. Come and die.</p></div></body></html> · Great War