[Editor: This poem by Barcroft Boake was published in Where the Dead Men Lie and Other Poems (1897).]
An Allegory
The fight was over, and the battle won.
A soldier, who beneath his chieftain’s eye
Had done a mighty deed and done it well,
And done it as the world will have it done —
A stab, a curse, some quick play of the butt,
Two skulls cracked crosswise, but the colours saved —
Proud of his wounds, proud of the promised cross,
Turned to his rear-rank man, who on his gun
Leant heavily apart. ‘Ho, friend!’ he called,
‘You did not fight then: were you left behind?
I saw you not.’ The other turned and showed
A gaping, red-lipped wound upon his breast.
‘Ah,’ said he sadly, ‘I was in the smoke!’
Threw up his arms, shivered, and fell and died.
Source:
Barcroft Boake, Where the Dead Men Lie and Other Poems, Sydney (NSW): Angus and Robertson, 1897, p. 73
Also published in:
The Bulletin (Sydney, NSW), 26 March 1892, p. 16, column 1 [by Barcroft H. Boake]
The Critic (Adelaide, SA), 25 December 1897, p. 13 [as part of an article titled “The book of Barcroft Boake”, the poem “An Allegory” is printed in full]
The Worker (Wagga, NSW), 2 July 1908, p. 27
Relevant notes from the “Notes to poems” section in this book:
16. AN ALLEGORY, p. 73. — Printed in The Bulletin, March 26, 1892. Signed ‘Barcroft H. Boake.’
Editor’s notes:
butt = the end of a fixture, particularly a larger or thicker end, commonly a blunt end, usually acting as a base, bottom, support, or handle, such as a cigarette butt, fence post butt, or rifle butt
the colours = a national flag; in the context of the British Empire, the Union Flag (also known as the Union Jack); a military banner or flag (of a regiment, battalion, etc.); a ship’s flag; an identifying flag, uniform, or the colours of a school, team, organisation, group, or unit
See: 1) “1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Colours, Military”, Wikisource
2) “Colours Tell the Story”, ANZAC Day Commemoration Committee (Queensland) Incorporated
3) “Origin and meaning of The Colours”, Digger History
4) “Save the Colours!”, National Army Museum (UK)
5) “What are regimental Colours and why do they mean so much?”, Forces.net, 21 February 2022
6) “Military colours, standards and guidons”, Wikipedia
7) “Presentation of Colours”, Wikipedia
cross = (in the context of warfare and bravery) a military medal for valour, in the form of a cross or incorporating a cross, e.g. Victoria Cross (established 1856, UK), Distinguished Service Cross (est. 1901, UK), Military Cross (est. 1914, UK), Distinguished Flying Cross (est. 1918, UK), Air Force Cross (est. 1918, UK) (all of the afore-mentioned military medals were available for awarding to military personnel in the British Commonwealth, including Australia, until changes were made regarding the awarding of medals)
See: 1) “Victoria Cross”, Wikipedia
2) “Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)”, Wikipedia
3) “Military Cross”, Wikipedia
4) “Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)”, Wikipedia
5) “Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)”, Wikipedia
6) “Victoria Cross for Australia”, Wikipedia
ho = (similar to “hey”, “hoy”, “ahoy”) a call of greeting; a call to attract attention to oneself; a call to attract attention to something which has been seen (e.g. a sailor’s call of “Land ho!” regarding land seen, usually seen from a distance; a sailor’s call of “Sail ho!” regarding a sailing boat seen); a call to attract attention to a destination (e.g. “Eastward ho!” and “Westward ho!” used by ferrymen; “Homeward ho!”); a call to give notice of one’s approach
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