High Adventure

Pass me my solar topee,
I´m wearing the clean boots
of discovery.
I could shoot elephants
whilst kissing Maharanis
at a tea dance.

I could be Taipan of Jardines
and smuggle the opium
from zen gardens.
I could reach either Pole
or race to Eldorado
and pilfer Cortes´ gold.

I dream of high adventure :
such times are now long past
and all that´s left are huts

in Kandahar and Helmand
and wearing the clean boots
of the military.