Robert W. Service
You make it in your mess-tin by the brazier’s rosy gleam;
You watch it cloud, then settle amber clear;
You lift it with your bay’nit, and you sniff the fragrant steam;
The very breath of it is ripe with cheer.
You’re awful cold and dirty, and a-cursin’ of your lot;
You scoff the blushin’ ‘alf of it, so rich and rippin’ ‘ot;
It bucks you up like anythink, just seems to touch the spot:
God bless the man that first discovered Tea!
Since I came out to fight in France, which ain’t the other day,
I think I’ve drunk enough to float a barge;
All kinds of fancy foreign dope, from caffy and doo lay,
To rum they serves you out before a charge.
In back rooms of estaminays I’ve gurgled pints of cham;
I’ve swilled down mugs of cider till I’ve felt a bloomin’ dam;
But ‘struth! they all ain’t in it with the vintage of Assam:
God bless the man that first invented Tea!
I think them lazy lumps o’ gods wot kips on asphodel
Swigs nectar that’s a flavour of Oolong;
I only wish them sons o’ guns a-grillin’ down in ‘ell
Could ‘ave their daily ration of Suchong.
Hurrah! I’m off to battle, which is ‘ell and ‘eaven too;
And if I don’t give some poor bloke a sexton’s job to do,
To-night, by Fritz’s campfire, won’t I ‘ave a gorgeous brew
(For fightin’ mustn’t interfere with Tea).
To-night we’ll all be tellin’ of the Boches that we slew,
As we drink the giddy victory in Tea.
© by owner. provided at no charge for educational purposes
You may find this and other poems here.
Analysis (AI Assisted)
This poem takes a refreshingly straightforward approach to the often dark and serious subject of war. It focuses on something as simple and human as the comfort of a cup of tea in the midst of the chaos of battle. The poet captures the absurdity and unexpected joy of small pleasures, using tea as both a literal and symbolic anchor in the life of a soldier.
From the start, the poem contrasts the cold, dirty, and uncomfortable realities of trench warfare with the warmth and comfort found in a humble cup of tea. The soldier’s lot is grim, filled with curses and complaints, but that one moment of enjoying tea is enough to lift his spirits. The “brazier’s rosy gleam” and the “fragrant steam” of the tea offer a brief respite from the horrors around him. There’s something almost absurd about this small pleasure standing out against the violence of war, but it’s a testament to how these simple things can carry a great deal of emotional weight in such extreme circumstances.
The soldier’s tone is casual and familiar, even humorous at times, especially when he compares his tea to all the other drinks he’s had. The poem moves from his musings on various drinks, including “fancy foreign dope” and “rum,” to his firm belief that nothing compares to the “vintage of Assam.” The phrase “God bless the man that first discovered Tea” repeats throughout the poem, almost as a chant or mantra, emphasizing how essential tea is to the soldier’s survival—both physically and mentally. It’s not just a drink; it becomes a lifeline, a symbol of normalcy and comfort in a world that’s anything but.
There’s a kind of pride in the soldier’s declaration that tea is superior to all other drinks, even “fancy” ones. This adds a humorous layer to the poem, as it’s clear the soldier’s love for tea isn’t based on any refined taste but on how deeply comforting it is, especially in a world where everything is turned upside down. His reverence for tea is something he sees as deeply grounded in the everyday, even as he’s facing the most extraordinary circumstances. The way he speaks of tea—with affection and unshakable loyalty—serves as a way for him to reclaim some semblance of control and comfort in an otherwise uncontrollable situation.
The poem also contains a striking juxtaposition of war and domesticity. The soldier is about to face the horrors of battle—”Hurrah! I’m off to battle, which is ‘ell and ‘eaven too”—but even then, he remains focused on tea. The idea of drinking tea in the midst of battle, or even after a victorious fight, is a wonderfully absurd image, but it’s also deeply human. The soldier doesn’t just fight; he needs this small ritual of drinking tea to make the war bearable. Even amidst the noise and chaos of the front, the idea that the soldier will still find a way to brew a cup of tea under Fritz’s campfire adds an oddly comforting note to the poem.
The poem doesn’t delve deeply into the grim aspects of war; instead, it focuses on the soldier’s daily life and how he copes with the overwhelming pressures of battle. Tea, in this sense, is almost a form of resistance to the dehumanizing elements of war. The soldier’s ability to appreciate something so simple amidst such hardship speaks to the resilience of the human spirit. It’s a reminder that in the most extreme situations, the smallest acts of normalcy can bring moments of peace.
In short, this poem doesn’t offer a typical view of war. Instead of focusing on the violence and chaos of the battlefield, it brings attention to something small but powerful—the soldier’s relationship with tea. In doing so, it conveys how, even in the worst of times, human beings can find comfort and strength in the smallest of pleasures. It’s not a deeply philosophical or tragic war poem, but rather a down-to-earth reflection on survival, routine, and the ways in which soldiers find moments of humanity amidst the inhumanity of war.