Explore "The Boy Patriot" by James Whitcomb Riley on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
I want to be a Soldier! -- / A Soldier! -- / A Soldier! -- / I want to be a Soldier, with a sabre in my hand / Or a little carbine rifle, or a musket on my shoulder, / Or just a snare-drum, snarling in the middle of the band; / I want to hear, high overhead, The Old Flag flap her wings / While all the Army, following, in chorus cheers and sings; / I want to hear the tramp and jar / Of patriots a million, / As gayly dancing off to war / As dancing a cotillion.
_I want to be a Soldier! _ -- / _A Soldier! _ -- / _A Soldier! _ -- / _I want to be a Soldier, with a sabre in my hand_ / _Or a little carbine rifle, or a musket on my shoulder_, / _Or just a snare-drum, snarling in the middle of the band_.