I'm Out Of The Army Now

written by


« Reload image

When first I doffed my olive drab,
I thought, delightfully though mutely,
"Henceforth I shall have pleasure ab-
  Solutely."

Dull with the drudgery of war,
Sick of the name of fighting,
I yearned, I thought, for something more
  Exciting.

The rainbow be my guide, quoth I;
My suit shall be a brave and proud one
Gay-hued my socks; and oh, my tie
  A loud one.

For me the theater and the dance;
Primrose the path I would be wending;
For me the roses of romance
  Unending.

Those were my inner thoughts that day
(And those of many another million)
When once again I should be a
  Civilian.

I would not miss the o.d.;
(Monotony I didn't much like)
I would not miss the reveille,
  And such the like.

I don't . . . And do I now enjoy
My walks along the primrose way so?
Is civil life the life? Oh, boy,
  I'll say so.

© Franklin Pierce Adams