Scratching

CONG oj a Serviceman in New

Guinea:

What a joint!

What an itchy, twitchy, scratchy joint, With everything that crawls and flies and bites, Giving me rashes, lumps and itches.

Till my skin revolts and twitches, And I scratch!

The RAP fellow (Not a bad fellow) Paints me all over, Purple, green and yellow, But despite his best, I can get no rest, For it itches.

They give it names, Such as tinea or erythema; But that doesn’t help a piesta When the itch begins to fester, ’Cos I still scratch.

I start at my head, Go down my arms and legs and ankles.

Then start again, All over again.

Tearing, Swearing, Itching, Scratching, Instinctively, Persistently, From head to hot, Till I’ve got the lot Well scratched.

When the sand fly and the mossies Return again to mock us, Return again to bite us, Return again to blight us With a Pharoah’s curse, Only ten times worse— Dermatitis!

And it leaves me itching, Which I can’t help scratching Like a dog With a flea.

Poor cow!

That’s me,

Scratching.