The Open Boat Poem by Cicely Fox Smith

'When this 'ere war is done (says Dan) an' all the fighting's through,
There's some will pal with Fritz again as they've been used to do . . .
But
not me
(says Dan the sailorman),
not me
(says he) -
Lord knows it's nippy in an open boat on winter nights at sea!'

'When the last battle's lost and won, an' won or lost the game,
There 's some'll think no 'arm to drink with square-'eads just the same,
But
not me
(says Dan the sailorman), an' if you ask me why,
Lord knows it's thirsty in an open boat when the water breaker's dry.'

'When all the bloomin' mines are swep' an' ships are sunk no more,
There's some'll set 'em down to eat with Germans as before;
But
not me
(says Dan the sailorman),
not me
, for one, -
Lord knows it's 'ungry in an open boat when the last biscuit's done.'

'When peace is signed an' treaties made an' trade begins again,
There's some'll shake a German's 'and an' never see the stain,
But
not me
(says Dan the sailorman),
not me
, as God's on high, -
Lord knows it's bitter in an open boat to see your shipmates die . . .'