Miles Chance, British
Scene From the Controversial War Movie “Apocalypse Nude,” 1943
Watercolor
Follow That Is Priceless on Social Media and GoComics (the Link button):
Click to Follow This Blog or Share This Masterpiece:
MASTERPIECE #2765
Info about this artist can be found here, and perhaps here (which lists an artist by that name in 1951; so, if it's the same artist, he survived the war).
/// The lieutenant gave orders to strip
for this wading-across-the-stream trip.
We wore helmets and socks,
packed the rest in a box,
which we’d take to the shore from the ship.
/// I was told to grab hold of one end
of the crate, (he would superintend).
Down a ramp, long and steep
into water, hip-deep
we would, both of us, slowly descend.
/// Our uniforms would have stayed dry
if he’d only held his end up high,
but (he may have been drunk),
he then dunked that big trunk
when he slipped, I am still not sure why.
/// If some clothing gets wet— these are trifles,
but the same can’t be said of our rifles.
With no weapon, and nude,
I’d have said something rude,
but some things a discreet soldier stifles.
“All I know is we’re supposed to cool this crate in the river, put it on the next plane out of Egypt, and send it to a warehouse in America. But this crazy guy in a fedora, and holding a bullwhip, says to me, ‘Whatever you do, don’t open it up!!!’ So, waddaya say? One little peek?”
/// I was crossin’ the river with Kit,
(he’s me mate an’ a bit of a git.)
Some of Christopher’s wit
in his words, I submit:
“Put yer kit in the kit held by Kit.”
Kit — noun a male given name, form of Christopher.
kit — noun (Chiefly British) a costume or outfit of clothing, especially for a specific purpose: battle kit.
kit — noun a collection of tools, supplies, etc., for a specific purpose: first-aid kit. Also, the case for containing these.
/// That kit, I’ll admit, wasn’t pretty.
It was sodden, and muddy, and gritty.
When we lugged it ashore
a surprise was in store.
Hiding inside the kit was a kitty.
/// The kitten became the men’s mascot.
She earns her keep well, for she has caught
many mice and a snake,
so, for Kitty-cat’s sake,
she’s camouflaged now, (with an ascot).