| Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936). Verse: 1885–1918. 1922. | | | | Bill ’Awkins |
| | | “’AS anybody seen Bill ’Awkins?” | |
| “Now ’ow in the devil would I know?” | |
| “’E’s taken my girl out walkin’, | |
| An’ I’ve got to tell ’im so— | |
| Gawd—bless—’im! | 5 |
| I’ve got to tell ’im so.” | |
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| “D’ yer know what ’e’s like, Bill ’Awkins?” | |
| “Now what in the devil would I care?” | |
| “’E’s the livin’, breathin’ image of an organ-grinder’s monkey, | |
| With a pound of grease in ’is ’air— | 10 |
| Gawd—bless—’im! | |
| An’ a pound o’ grease in ’is ’air.” | |
| |
| “An’ s’pose you met Bill ’Awkins?” | |
| Now what in the devil ’ud ye do?” | |
| “I’d open ’is cheek to ’is chin-strap buckle, | 15 |
| An’ bung up ’is both eyes, too— | |
| Gawd—bless—’im! | |
| An’ bung up ’is both eyes, too!” | |
| |
| “Look ’ere, where ’e comes, Bill ’Awkins! | |
| Now, what in the devil will you say?” | 20 |
| “It isn’t fit an’ proper to be fightin’ on a Sunday, | |
| So I’ll pass ’im the time o’ day— | |
| Gawd—bless—’im! | |
| I’ll pass ’im the time o’ day!” | | | | |
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