Reconstruct the poem by dragging each line into its correct position. You can also use the up (↑) and down (↓) arrows to move a line one place at a time, or the top (⇑) and bottom (⇓) arrows to move a line directly to the top or bottom. Your goal is to reassemble the original poem as accurately as possible. As you move the lines, you'll see whether your arrangement is correct, helping you explore the poem's flow and meaning. You can also print out the jumbled poem to cut up and reassemble in the classroom. Either way, take your time, enjoy the process, and discover how the poet's words come together to create something truly beautiful.
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But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot;
An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints,
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!
There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all:
We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer,
O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;
O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";
The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.
But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide,
But it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind,
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here.
O it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind.
O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind",
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";
An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!
I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, 'ow's yer soul?
The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool -- you bet that Tommy sees!
O it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play.
But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,
Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
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You've successfully reconstructed the poem! Your understanding of poetry and attention to detail is impressive.
I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer, The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here." The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die, I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I: O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away"; But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play, The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play, O it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play.
I went into a theatre as sober as could be, They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me; They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls, But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls! For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside"; But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide, The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide, O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.
Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap; An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit. Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, 'ow's yer soul?" But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll, The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll, O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.
We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too, But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you; An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints, Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints; While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind", But it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind, There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind, O it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind.
You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all: We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational. Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace. For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!" But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot; An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please; An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool -- you bet that Tommy sees!