rudyard kipling

Rudyard Kipling was the soldier's poet. He influenced the mythology that was behind the Boy Scouts (The Jungle Book, Kim) and he wrote an immense number of powerful poems. James would dip into Kipling for poems to read at the Burns Club. One powerful poem, loved by James was Gunga Din.

"So I'll meet 'm later on

At the place where he is gone -

Where it's always double drill and no canteen.

'E'll be squattin' on the coals

Givin' drink to poor damned souls,

An' I'll get a swig in hell from Gunga Din! Yes, Din! Din! Din!

You Lazarushian-leather Gunga Din!

Though I've belted you and flayed you,

By the livin' Gawd that made you,

You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din.

Done