( Nursery Memories ) I.—THE FIRST FUNERAL

(The first corpse I saw was on the German wires, and couldn't be buried)

The whole field was so smelly; We smelt the poor dog first: His horrid swollen belly Looked just like going burst.

His fur was most untidy; He hadn't any eyes. It happened on Good Friday And there was lots of flies.

And then I felt the coldest I'd ever felt, and sick, But Rose, 'cause she's the oldest, Dared poke him with her stick.

He felt quite soft and horrid: The flies buzzed round his head And settled on his forehead: Rose whispered: "That dog's dead.

"You bury all dead people, When they're quite really dead, Round churches with a steeple: Let's bury this," Rose said.

"And let's put mint all round it To hide the nasty smell." I went to look and found it— Lots, growing near the well.

We poked him through the clover Into a hole, and then We threw brown earth right over And said: "Poor dog, Amen!"