Women's WWI poetry evening

I thought your readers might be interested in this poem by Jessie Pope. It will be included in an evening of women’s World War I poetry at the Wycombe Festival.

The poems will be read by members of the Princes Risborough U3A poetry group, at the Church House, Hughenden, at 8pm on Wednesday, May 21.

Nick Wheeler-Robinson, North Dean

War Girls, by Jessie Pope

There’s the girl who clips your ticket for the train,

And the girl who speeds the lift from floor to floor,

There’s the girl who does a milk round in the rain,

And the girl who calls for orders at your door.

Strong, sensible, and fit,

They’re out to show their grit,

And tackle jobs with energy and knack.

No longer caged and penned up,

They’re going to keep their end up,

Till the khaki soldier boys come marching back.

There’s the motor girl who drives a heavy van,

There’s the butcher girl who brings your joint of meat,

There’s the girl who cries ‘All fares, please!’ like a man,

And the girl who whistles taxis up the street.

Beneath each uniform

Beats a heart that’s soft and warm,

Though of canny mother-wit they show no lack;

But a solemn statement this is,

They’ve no time for love and kisses

Till the khaki soldier boys come marching back.