Billy Bishop - The Kid Who Could Shoot Straight Poem by Kevin Patrick

He was born in the spring of Lauriers Days
And trained with the techniques of Borden's ways
Never once did he falter from bullies in town
As a young pup growing in old Owen Sounds

The goals that he sought were true to character
Full of drive and resolve devoid of swagger
He played by the rules but he wasn't a fool
Preferring a road of thoughtful solitude

And when King George the V called him to service
He did not hesitated to fight in the land of his fathers
Patriot of the domain to the Great British Empire
Before the sunset and left it to retire

From Malta to Ghana all the way to China
Billy Bishop proved to be made of the mantle
Though he sunk at exams he proved in the field
The true test of character in life does not yield

He flew in the cockpit of an armoured fly
Bounded to battlefields in an open sky
Soft spoken he was, but valiant a fighter
Leading aerial charges against the Old Kaiser

The Red Baron feared him and made him a target
But Billy was quicker in the duck hunting market
Evading the shelling from the deck of the Jastas
Who hunted him down over the wreck of Ypres

The wily Krouts named him "Hell's Handmaiden"
For leading the 60 towards their decimation
In one day he crashed four times in a row
Only getting back up to prove horses can soar

Got Seventy two for the base of his kill
But he never bragged ‘cause it wasn't for thrill
It was for duty in name of serving the empire
For honor of fathers and serving with brothers

Billy Bishop you proved your country proud
For storming the skies as our Canadian shield
In times of war you showed what heroes are for
Now rest in peace in Remembrance we sow