As it exists in draft format it may not have been published, but the final line may well have been the inspiration for the republican ballad 'The Bold Black and Tans'.
THE BLACK AND TANS
1
IN THE HUSH OF THE NIGHT WHEN THE
CURFEW TOLLS
AND THE CHURCHYARDS YAWNING
UPHEAVE MEN'S SOULS
HARK! A RATTLE OF WHEELS ON THE
COBBLE STONES
AND HEEDLESS OF CHURCHES AND
DEAD MEN'S BONES
WITH AN ARMOURED CAR LEADING
AND MASSED IN VANS
COME THE 'DEVIL-MAY-CARES' CALLED
THE BLACK AND TANS2
WHAT ARE THEY AFTER, WHY ARE THEY HERE
AND AT DEAD OF NIGHT DO THEY NOW
APPEAR?
THEY ARE HERE OF SET PURPOSE FOR
HUNTING DOWN
ASSASSINS DEFYING THE EMPIRE'S
CROWN
TO TRACE THEM OUT TO THE HIDDEN
LAIR
AND SHOOT AT SIGHT WHEN THEY
FIND THEM THERE.3
BY LAKE AND MOUNTAIN OR
BEETLING CLIFF
WHETHER ROADS BE PLEASANT
OR CLIMBING STIFF
THOUGH STORMS SURROUND THEM TILL
DAY BE DONE
THROUGH RAIN OR SNOW OR A
GRILLING SUN
THEY'LL COMB OUT THE PLACES
FROM SHORE TO SHORE
TILL LAW AND ORDER PREVAIL
ONCE MORE4
THEY ARE AFTER THE CULT THAT
IS CALLED SINN FEIN
WHICH BEARS ON ITS FOREHEAD
THE BRAND OF CAIN
AND DELUDES YOUNG MEN INTO
GHASTLY DEEDS
WHOSE EXPANDING BULLET
THE VICTIM BLEEDS
WHILST THE WIDOW'S WAIL AND
THE ORPHAN'S CRY
ASCEND TO THE THRONE OF GOD
ON HIGH5
THEY SEE THESE SIGHTS BUT
THE ARM-CHAIR MEN
THE NEWSPAPER CRITICS WHO
WIELD A PEN
AND SPEAK OF REPRISALS WITH
BATED BREATH
WHAT DO THEY CARE FOR THE
VICTIM'S DEATH?
BUT BY GOD, TO AVENGE HIM THE JOBS A MAN'S
AND WE'LL SEE IT THROUGH
SAY THE BLACK AND TANS6
ON THE BLACK AND TAN MISSION OF WHICH
WE SING
WE SERVE AND ACKNOWLEDGE
OUR EMPIRE'S KING
IN LOYALTY EVER ALL GOODNESS
GROWS
AND DISLOYAL MEN ARE THE
COUNTRY'S FOES
IF THE FLAME OF REBELLION THE
SINN FEINER FANS
HE WILL MEET WITH SHORT SHRIFT
FROM THE BOLD BLACK AND TANS
NOVEMBER 1920 - Anon
