WHOLL WEAR the beaten coloursand cheer the beaten men?
Wholl wear the beaten colours, till our time comes again?
Where sullen crowds are densest, and fickle as the sea,
Wholl wear the beaten colours, and wear them home with me?
We closed the bars and gambling dens and voted straight and clean,
Our women walked while motor cars were whirling round the scene,
The Potts Point Vote was one for Greed and Ease and Luxury
With all to hold, and coward gold, and beaten folk are we.
Wholl wear the beaten colours, with hands and pockets clean?
(I wore the beaten colours since I was seventeen)
I wore them up, and wore them down, Outback and across the sea
Wholl wear the beaten colours, and wear them home with me?
We wore them back from Ladysmith to where the peace was signed,
And wore them through the London streets where Jingoes howled behind.
We wore them to the Queens Hall, while England yelled Pro-Boers!
And sat them over victory while London banged the doors.1
We wore them from Port Arthur round till all sunk in the sea
(Wholl wear the white mans colours, and wear them home with me?)
Ive worn them through with gentlemen, with work-slaves and alone
Wholl wear the beaten colours, boys, and wear them on his own?
Theres one would look with startled eyes and shrink while I caressed,
Came I not with the colours of the conquered on my breast.
And twenty thousand Bushmen would stand with hands behind
And scorn in all their faces for the coward of his kind.
Wholl wear the beaten colours and raise the voice they drowned
It may be when we march again, theyll bear some other sound
Wholl pin the beaten colours on and drive the beaten pen
It may be other steel and ink when we march out again.
