‘Hallelujah!’ was the only observation
That escaped Lieutenant-Colonel Mary Jane,
When she tumbled off the platform in the station,
And was cut in little pieces by the train.
Mary Jane, the train is through yer!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
We shall gather up the fragments that remain.

*****

The Salvation Army is the only army I can think of that would have had female officers in Housman‘s time.

I first came across – and immediately learnt by heart – this poem in ‘The Puffin Book of Funny Verse’ compiled by Julia Watson and loaded with a great variety of illustrations. I highly, highly recommend the book for children… and all the young at heart.

Photo: “Salvation Army Band” by Sherlock77 (James) is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.