Page:Departmental Ditties and Ballads and Barrack-Room Ballads, Kipling, 1899.djvu/23

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STUDY OF AN ELEVATION, IN INDIAN INK
9

Potiphar Gubbins, C. E.,
Is dear to the Powers that Be;
For They bow and They smile in an affable style,
Which is seldom accorded to Me.


Potiphar Gubbins, C. E.,
Is certain as certain can be
Of a highly paid post which is claimed by a host
Of seniors—including Me.


Careless and lazy is he,
Greatly inferior to Me.
What is the spell that you manage so well,
Commonplace Potiphar G.?


Lovely Mehitabel Lee,
Let me inquire of thee,
Should I have riz to where Potiphar is
Hadst thou been mated to Me?