Crimean texts
Lord Raglan might in September have taken
Sebastopol duly and truly;
But the weather (he raves about weather!) was warm,
And he wished to take it — coolly!
So he made what was, indeed, to our foes,
A diversion; quoth he, “I’ll con it
A while, and in the meantime keep
My weather-eye upon it.”
October, November, December came on,
As if missioned his army to kill off:
“The weather is now too cold,” quoth he,
“I’ll take it — with the chill off!”
For three months more despatches he wrote
In meteorological form,
’Till the storms had passed; “’Tis too late now,”
Quoth he, “to take it — by storm!”
Thus, whether the weather be foul or fair,
Sebastopol ’scapes the blow —
Then, down with the weather-glass! give us a man
Who will take it — whether or no!
DAVID WALKINSHAW
Sheffield