Edward Dyson

Here you will find the Poem BillJim of poet Edward Dyson

BillJim

Down to it is Plugger Bill, 
Lyin' crumpled, white 'n' still. 
Me 'n' him 
Chips in when the scrap begins, 
Carin' nothin' for our skins, 
Chi-iked as the 'Eavenly Twins- 
Bill 'n' Jim. 

They 'ave outed Bill at last, 
Slugged me cobber hard 'n' fast. 
It's a kill. 
See the purple of his lip 
'N' the red 'n' oozy drip! 
Ends our great ole partnership- 
Jim 'n' Bill 

Mates we was when we was kids; 
Camp, 'n' ship, 'n' Pyramids, 
Him 'n' me 
Hung together, 'n' we tore 
Up the heights from Helles shore, 
Bill a long 'arf head afore, 
Fine to see! 

Then it was we took a touch- 
Simple puncture, nothin' much; 
But we lay 
'N' we stays the count, it seems, 
In a sorter realm of dreams 
Where the sun infernal gleams 
Night 'n' day; 

Boilin', fryin' achin', dumb, 
Waitin' till the stretchers come, 
Patiently. 
I hangs on to 'arf a cup. 
Which I wants ole Bill to sup. 
Damn if he ain't savin' up 
His for me! 

When they come to lift my head 
I am softly kiddin' dead, 
For a game, 
So's they'll first take on his gills. 
Over, though, me scheme he spills- 
Bli'me, this ole take-down Bill's 
Done the same! 

But he isn't kiddin' now, 
And it knocks me anyhow 
Seein' him. 
We was both agreed before, 
Though it got 'em by the score, 
Two was goin' to beat this war- 
But 'n' Jim. 

Mate o' mine, yiv stayed it through. 
Hard luck, Bill-for me 'n' you 
Hard 'n' grim. 
They have got me Cobber true, 
But I'm stickin' tight ez glue?. 
Bill, there's one who'll plug for two- 
It is Jim!