<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">The TWA Weelums</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">I'm</span> Sairgeant Weelum Henderson frae Pairth,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">That's wha I am!</p><p class="line">There's just ae regimint in a' the airth</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">That's worth a damn;</p><p class="line">An' gin the bonniest fechter o' the lot</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">Ye seek to see,</p><p class="line">Him that's the best -- <em>whaur ilka man's a Scot</em> --</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">Speir you at me!</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Gin there's a hash o' Gairmans pitten oot</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">By aichts an' tens,</p><p class="line">That Wully Henderson's been thereaboot</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">A'body kens;</p><p class="line">Fegs-aye ! Yon Weelum that's in Gairmanie,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">He hadna' reckoned</p><p class="line">Wi' Sairgint Weelum Henderson an' wi'</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">The Forty-Second!</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Yon day we lichtit on the shores o' France,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">The lassies standin'</p><p class="line">Trod ilk on ither's taes to get the chance</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">To see us landin'.</p><p class="line">The besoms! O they smiled to me -- an' yet</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">They couldna' help it.</p><p class="line">(Mysel', I just was thinkin' foo we'd get</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">They Gairmans skelpit.)</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">I'm wearied wi' them, for it's aye the same</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">Whaure'er we gang,</p><p class="line">Oor Captain thinks we've got his een to blame,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">But man! he's wrang!</p><p class="line">I winna say he's no as smairt a lad</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">As ye micht see</p><p class="line">Atween twa Sawbiths -- aye, he's no sae bad,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">But he's no me!</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Weel, let the limmers bide; their bonnie lips</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">Are fine an' reid,</p><p class="line">But me an' Weelum's got to get to grips</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">Afore we're deid,</p><p class="line">An' gin he thinks he hasna' met his match</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">He'll sune be wiser --</p><p class="line">Here's to mysel'! Here's to the auld Black Watch!</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">An' damn the Kaiser!</p></div><p class="byline">-- Violet Jacob.</p></body></html> · Great War