Pettitt's Poetry Corner: A Young Officer Looks Back on a Singularly Undistinguished Career

 - with annotations by Col. Hollie Babbitt, literary critic of no renown whatever

 

When first my wond'ring eyes did turn

On SOMERSET's streams and rills

On Bristol's many marvels

On GLASTONB'RY's famed hill

The flat wolds of LINCOLNSHIRE

The busy town of Leeds

The barren wastes of LANCASHIRE  (watch itt, Pettyt, I am stille yr commandeing officer - HTB)
Which yet gives us good cheese           

 

Twas then I first did comprehend

The beauty of this isle

For having come from ESSEX

A march of many a mile

I have seen many wonders

And many varied scenes

Of inns and streets and lovely fields

In many a different green

 

For now I am come home again

And by the LORD's grace whole

'Tis not, I find, a palace

That yet exalts my soul

But 'tis a humble cottage

With a welcome at the gate

With loving and with friendship

Where my dear MIST'RESS waits.  (thatt must bee a diffrent maistress than the one I mett - HTB)           

 For near or far where'er I roam
Where my love lies, is my home.