Poem - May Kidson

'Keep on Knitting, Girls'

By May Kidson

O Keep on knitting, girls, now,

For every skein's just gold;

When you're in' the sunshine, girls,

We're, sore .and numb with cold.

So keep on knitting, girls, now,

A weekly sock for a man;

We're doing all our little 'bit

And you'll help us all you can.

And keep on knitting, girls, now,

Each week a glove for a hand;

For we're out in the biting cold,

And you're in our summer land.

P'raps you will think it's hot too,

And fingers go clammy and wet;

But you've got water handy, girls,

And chilblains are worse than sweat.

A warm neck wrap is fine too,

They say it's easy knit;

There's not the turning of the heel,

That makes it hard to fit.

And knit us a cap, too, girls,

When our lips are cut and blue;

(But our ears don't get the frost bite)

We'll think a cheer for you.

The shrapnel's too loud to hear it,

But we'll think it all the same;

So knit some thoughts for the lads, girls,

To warm us like a flame.

Girls, you've been good and rippin',

And we think a lot of you;

As you help us in the deadly cold,

Girls of our skies of blue.

For there's no 'land like Australia,

And no girls in the world

Can beat 'em in the woman's fight,

As we keep the flag unfurled.

As we keep the flag unfurled.