Bradley T. Van Deusen


Bradley T. Van Deusen




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Asawa Ni Ako, Old Soldiers' Drums
Table of Contents





Transcription


Page 14

ASAWA NI AKO

(A Song for All the Little Sunshines)

In the outskirts of Manila
In the barrio called Pasay
The soldiers used to bogao
Just the same as you and I.
The dalagas used to gather
By the banyan near the pool
Where the carabao used to wallow
And the behos used to drool.
It was there that first I met her;
Anacleto was her name;
Dark she was, her hair was darker;
Where she used to search for game.
Four feet tall in red chinelas
When she wasn't squatted down
And she coyly shook the dirt off
Of her peso cotton gown.
But I left here there forever
For I couldn't stand the strain.
Thank gawd! I left Manila
And my GuGu wife or twain! Adios!


Page 15

OLD SOLDIERS' DRUMS

I'm just too old for drilling
I can't hike anymore;
So I'm bound for the soldiers' graveyard
Behind an office door.
They sing - "Old soldiers never die."
We don't; we live on crumbs -
The shrilling, splendid bugles
An' the thunder of the drums!

I won't do Guard in a snowstorm
An' I won't hafta go an' fire;
It's just messin' around an office
An' waiting to retire.
"Approved per First Indorsement ..."
An' through the window comes
The music of a Guardmount
An' the cadenced, throbbin' drums!

Twenty-three and a butt in the Doughboys;
Why, I've hiked a million miles!
But they said my age couldn't stand it
An' they detailed me to the files!
This work is nice for some men
Who can take it as it comes.
But you know their hearts ain't achin'
For the pullin', poundin' drums!

D.S. 1/4C. an' a non-combatant!
When there's guys tha'd give their life
To piddle around an office
An' go home at night to the wife.
But I'll get back to formation;
There's a day that always comes:
An' I'll ride on a painted cassion
With the muffled, sobbin' drums!





Historical Notes


Bradley began writing poetry during his time stationed in the Phillipines.

Beside "Asawa Ni Ako," other poems about the islands include:

Maneuvers         1924
Island Days         October 18, 1928
Outcasts         November 7, 1928
Naic Beach         January 2, 1929
Tuan Jimmy                  January 16, 1929


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