As Red as it Gets!

Gerald Gee*

RUBY TUESDAY
http://workofthepoet.blogspot.com/2009/11/ruby-tuesday_09.html

AS RED AS IT GETS!


The splash of blood in Gerald's cartoon
Is as red as plum jam in a spoon.
It shows up scarlet, brilliant, bright,
Because the victim's clothes are white!
Think of the uniforms of old!
Ruby red and blazing bold.
Think a while and you'll understand
Why that colour was in demand!
When a man was hit and blood had spurted
His fellow soldiers were disconcerted!
As it dribbled, soaked and oozed
Other men became confused.
'We never thought of blood!' they brayed,
'But this sight's made us quite afraid!
We think we might lay down our arms!
That red has raised some loud alarms!
All the red that I can see
Makes me think it could be me!'
But, on a coat already red,
No-one could see old Tom had bled!
'Let's face the enemy with aplomb!
Nothing's the matter with our friend, Tom!'
*
Of course, those very crafty Boers
Could see red clearly out of doors.
They chose to wear a khaki shade
And what a sensible choice they made!
Red uniforms were mad, they felt,
If one were fighting on the 'veld'.
The rest is history, as they say,
Soldiers wear khaki to this day!
*

*

Soldiers of a different era:
http://rinklyrimes.blogspot.com/2009/05/trojan-horse.html

*See the rest of Gerald's work at

http://geraldgee.blogspot.com/