Quote/Poem The New Tommy Atkins (with apologies to Kipling)

[Billy Little]

The New Tommy Atkins (with apologies to Kipling)

Submitted by Billy Little
Author Unknown


They flew me `ome from Baghdad with a bullet in my chest
Cos they`ve closed the army `ospitals I`m in the NHS
The nurse she ain`t no Britisher an` so she ain`t impressed
It`s like I`m some street corner thug who`s come off second best

Yes, it`s Tommy, this an` Tommy that an` “You`re not welcome `ere”
But when Saddam was collar`d they were quick enough to cheer
They`re proud when Tommy Atkins `olds the thin red line out there
But now he`s wounded back at `ome he has to wait for care

Some stranger in the next bed sez “Don`t you feel no shame?
You kill my muslim brothers!” So it`s me not `im to blame!
An` then the cleaner ups an` sez “Who are you fighting for?
It ain`t for Queen and country `cos it`s Bush`s bloody war!”

It`s Tommy this an` Tommy that an` “Tommy what`s that smell?
But it`s “God go with you Tommy” when they fly us out to `ell
O then we`re just like `eroes from the army`s glorious past
Yes it`s “God go with you Tommy” when the trip might be your last

They pays us skivvy wages never mind we`re sitting ducks
When clerks what`s pushing pens at `ome don`t know their flippin` luck
“Ah yes” sez they “but think of all the travel to be `ad”
Pull the other one, does cooks do `olidays in Baghdad?

It`s Tommy this an` Tommy that an` Tommy know your place
But it`s Tommy take the front seat when there`s terrorists to chase
An` the town is full of maniacs who`d like you dead toot sweet
Yes it`s “Thank you Mr Atkins” when they find you in the street

There`s s`pposed to be a covynant to treat us fair an` square
But I `ad to buy me army boots an` me combats is threadbare
An` `alf the bloody `elicopters can`t get in the air
An` me pistol jammed when snipers fired that’s why I`m laid up `ere

Yes It`s Tommy this an` Tommy that “We `ave to watch the pence”
Bold as brass the PM sez “We spare them no expense”
But I`II tell you when they do us proud an` pull out all the stops
It`s when Tommy lands at Lyneham in a bloomin` wooden box!

 

[Bombardier]

Very good Billy, I like it

 

[John A Silkstone]

Hi Billy, thanks for putting that up. The thing that annoys me is that someone thought the poem should be changed and put into 4 lines stanzas. When they have no right to do so.

The original poem is below and when Patrick wrote it, he only used 6 lines in the first stanza while the next three have 8 lines each. His reason for this was to place more emphasis on the last 2 line stanza (Two lines are called a rhyming couplet). And again, his poem is titled Tommy and not The New Tommy Atkins.

His apologies to Kipling are because he used Kipling rhyming scheme from the poem Tommy Atkins.

I did the same with one of my poems ‘The Village Blacksmith by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. 1807–1882

Silky

Tommy (with apologies to Kipling)
Written by Patrick Campbell>

They flew me 'ome from Baghdad with a bullet in me chest.
Cos they've closed the army 'ospitals, I'm in the NHS.
The nurse, she ain't no Britisher an' so she ain't impressed.
It's like I'm some street corner thug who's come off second best.
Yes, it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "You're not welcome 'ere".
But when Saddam was collar'd, they was quick enough to cheer.

They're proud when Tommy Atkins 'olds the thin red line out there,
But now he's wounded back at 'ome, he has to wait for care.
Some stranger in the next bed sez, "Don't you feel no shame?
You kill my Muslim brothers!" So it's me not 'im to blame!
An' then the cleaner ups an' sez "Who are you fightin' for?
It ain't for Queen and country 'cos it's Bush's bloody war!"
It's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, what's that smell?"
But it's "God go with you, Tommy," when they fly us out to 'ell.

O then we're just like 'eroes from the army's glorious past.
Yes, it's "God go with you, Tommy," when the trip might be your last.
They pays us skivvy wages, never mind we're sitting ducks,
When clerks what's pushing pens at 'ome don't know their flippin' luck.
"Ah, yes" sez they "but think of all the travel to be 'ad."
Pull the other one. Does Cooks do 'olidays in Baghdad?
It's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, know your place,"
But it's "Tommy, take the front seat," when there's terrorists to chase.

An' the town is full of maniacs who'd like you dead toot sweet.
Yes, it's "Thank you, Mr Atkins," when they find you in the street.
There's s'pposed to be a covynant to treat us fair an' square
But I 'ad to buy me army boots, an' me combats is threadbare.
An' 'alf the bloody 'elicopters can't get into the air,
An' me pistol jammed when snipers fired. That's why I'm laid up 'ere.
Yes, it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, "We 'ave to watch the pence";
Bold as brass the P.M. sez, "We spare them no expense.

"But I'll tell you when they do us proud an' pull out all the stops,
It's when Tommy lands at Lyneham in a bloomin' wooden box!

 

[Billy Little]

Very good Billy, I like it

Yes i thought it was good too ...

 

[Billy Little]

Hi Billy, thanks for putting that up. The thing that annoys me is that someone thought the poem should be changed and put into 4 lines stanzas. When they have no right to do so.

The original poem is below and when Patrick wrote it, he only used 6 lines in the first stanza while the next three have 8 lines each. His reason for this was to place more emphasis on the last 2 line stanza (Two lines are called a rhyming couplet). And again, his poem is titled Tommy and not The New Tommy Atkins.

His apologies to Kipling are because he used Kipling rhyming scheme from the poem Tommy Atkins.

I did the same with one of my poems ‘The Village Blacksmith by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. 1807–1882

Silky

Tommy (with apologies to Kipling)
Written by Patrick Campbell>

They flew me 'ome from Baghdad with a bullet in me chest.
Cos they've closed the army 'ospitals, I'm in the NHS.
The nurse, she ain't no Britisher an' so she ain't impressed.
It's like I'm some street corner thug who's come off second best.
Yes, it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "You're not welcome 'ere".
But when Saddam was collar'd, they was quick enough to cheer.

They're proud when Tommy Atkins 'olds the thin red line out there,
But now he's wounded back at 'ome, he has to wait for care.
Some stranger in the next bed sez, "Don't you feel no shame?
You kill my Muslim brothers!" So it's me not 'im to blame!
An' then the cleaner ups an' sez "Who are you fightin' for?
It ain't for Queen and country 'cos it's Bush's bloody war!"
It's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, what's that smell?"
But it's "God go with you, Tommy," when they fly us out to 'ell.

O then we're just like 'eroes from the army's glorious past.
Yes, it's "God go with you, Tommy," when the trip might be your last.
They pays us skivvy wages, never mind we're sitting ducks,
When clerks what's pushing pens at 'ome don't know their flippin' luck.
"Ah, yes" sez they "but think of all the travel to be 'ad."
Pull the other one. Does Cooks do 'olidays in Baghdad?
It's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, know your place,"
But it's "Tommy, take the front seat," when there's terrorists to chase.

An' the town is full of maniacs who'd like you dead toot sweet.
Yes, it's "Thank you, Mr Atkins," when they find you in the street.
There's s'pposed to be a covynant to treat us fair an' square
But I 'ad to buy me army boots, an' me combats is threadbare.
An' 'alf the bloody 'elicopters can't get into the air,
An' me pistol jammed when snipers fired. That's why I'm laid up 'ere.
Yes, it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, "We 'ave to watch the pence";
Bold as brass the P.M. sez, "We spare them no expense.

"But I'll tell you when they do us proud an' pull out all the stops,
It's when Tommy lands at Lyneham in a bloomin' wooden box!

Silky, apologies on my part .. but thats how I received it through email ..

 

[Drone_pilot]

However, whatever, it's still a powerfull condemnation of what life after the forces is still like. for a PBI, (poor Bloody Infantryman) sal; (any soilder anywhere).

 

[Hollis]

Thanks, Well done. One of my favorite poems. Kipling was very good.

 

[John A Silkstone]

Billy no need to apologies, not your fault, but as a published poet and author I have a bee in my bonnet about plagiarism and changing things around without the authors permission.

I like the poem in is original format as it gives more power and meaning to the last two lines.

Silky