English Poetry. Robert William Service. Slugging Saint. Роберт Уильям Сервис.

Robert William Service (Роберт Уильям Сервис)

Slugging Saint

'Twas in a pub in Battersea
They call the "Rose and Crown,"
Quite suddenly, it seemed to me,
The Lord was looking down;
The Lord was looking from above,
And shiny was His face,
And I was filled with gush of love
For all the human race.

Anon I saw three ancient men
Who reckoned not of bliss,
And they looked quite astonished when
I gave them each a kiss.
I kissed each on his balding spot
With heart of Heaven grace...
And then it seemed there was a lot
Of trouble round the place.

They had me up before the beak,
But though I told my tale,
He sentanced me to spend a week
In Yard of Scotland Gaol.
So when they kindly set me free
Please don't think it amiss,
If Battling Bill of Battersea,
For love of all humanity
Gives you a kiss.

Robert William Service’s other poems:

1. Spanish Women
2. The Prospector
3. Abandoned Dog
4. The Ballad of Blasphemous Bill
5. The Law of the Yukon

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