Re: [at-l] My Year 2000 Springer Pack List

["Bucky" <mfuller@somtel.com>]

I can't believe Solar Bear wrote:

> This will probably gross some of you out, but my very light collapsible liter 
> pee bottle doubles as a water bottle during the day.  It's not the primary, 
> but on a hot day when I need to carry two liters, I just rinse it out and 
> fill it up.

EEEWWWW!

You may talk o' gin and beer
When you're quartered safe out 'ere,
An' you're sent to penny-hikes an' Aldershot it;
But when it comes to thru-hikes
You will do your work on water,
An' you'll lick the bloomin' boots of 'im that's got it.
In App'latia's sunny clime,
Where I used to spend my time
A-servin' of 'Er Majesty the Queen,
Of all them tutued crew
The finest man I knew
Was our regimental bhisti, Solar Bear.
      He was "Bear! Bear! Bear!
  You limpin' lump o' brick-dust, Solar Bear!
      Hi! slippery hitherao!
      Water, get it!  Panee lao!
  You squidgy-nosed old idol, Solar Bear."
 
The Polartec 'e wore
Was nothin' much before,
An' rather less than 'arf o' that be'ind,
For a piece o' twisty rag
An' a collaps'ble water-bag
Was all the field-equipment 'e could find.
When the sweatin' hikers lay
In a shelter through the day,
Where the 'eat would make your bloomin' eyebrows crawl,
We shouted "Harry By!"
Till our throats were bricky-dry,
Then we wopped 'im 'cause 'e couldn't serve us all.
      It was "Bear! Bear! Bear!
  You 'eathen, where the mischief 'ave you been?
      You put some juldee in it
      Or I'll marrow you this minute 
  If you don't fill up my helmet, Solar Bear!"
 
'E would dot an' carry one
Till the longest day was done;
An' 'e didn't seem to know the use o' fear.
If we yogied or hitched or cut,
You could bet your bloomin' nut,
'E'd be waitin' fifty paces right flank rear.
With 'is plat'pus on 'is back,
'E would skip with our attack,
An' watch us till the bugles made "Retire",
An' for all 'is dirty 'ide
'E was white, clear white, inside
When 'e went to tend the wounded under fire!
      It was "Bear! Bear! Bear!"
  With the bullets kickin' dust-spots on the green.
      When the cartridges ran out,
      You could hear the front-files shout,
  "Hi! ammunition-mules an' Solar Bear!"
 
I shan't forgit the night
When I dropped be'ind the fight
With a bullet where my belt-plate should 'a' been.
I was chokin' mad with thirst,
An' the man that spied me first
Was our good old grinnin', gruntin' Solar Bear.
'E lifted up my 'ead,
An' he plugged me where I bled,
An' 'e guv me 'arf-a-pint o' water-yellow:
It was crawlin' and it stunk,
But of all the drinks I've drunk,
I'm gratefullest to one from Solar Bear.
      It was "Bear! Bear! Bear!
  'Ere's a beggar with a bullet through 'is spleen;
      'E's chawin' up the ground,
      An' 'e's kickin' all around:
  For Gawd's sake git the water, Solar Bear!"
 
'E carried me away
To where a dooli lay,
An' a bullet come an' drilled the beggar clean.
'E put me safe inside,
An' just before 'e died,
"I 'ope you liked your drink", sez Solar Bear.
So I'll meet 'im later on
At the place where 'e is gone --
Where it's always double drill and no canteen;
'E'll be squattin' on the coals
Givin' drink to poor damned souls,
An' I'll get a swig in hell from Solar Bear!
      Yes, Bear! Bear! Bear!
  You Lazarushian-leather Solar Bear!
      Though I've belted you and flayed you,
      By the livin' Gawd that made you,
  You're a better man than I am, Solar Bear!

--
mfuller@somtel.com; Northern Franklin County, Maine         $
The Constitution is the white man's ghost shirt.  }>:-/> --->


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