Last Poems (Housman)/Grenadier

by Alfred Edward Housman

V
Grenadier

The Queen she sent to look for me,
 The sergeant he did say,
"Young man, a soldier will you be
 For thirteen pence a day?"

For thirteen pence a day did I
 Take off the things I wore,
And I have marched to where I lie,
 And I shall march no more.

My mouth is dry, my shirt is wet,
 My blood runs all away,
So now I shall not die in debt
 For thirteen pence a day.

To-morrow after new young men
 The sergeant he must see,
For things will all be over then
 Between the Queen and me.

And I shall have to bate my price,
 For in the grave, they say,
Is neither knowledge nor device
 Nor thirteen pence a day.