Genre:

Poetry

Subjects:

War, Military Technology, Museums

    Bids farewell to the ramrod rifle, the 'trusty rod of steel', pointing out that 'Britannia's sons / Require breechloading guns, / In case foreign band / Invade their native land'. Anticipates that it is 'doomed to rust' unless it is 'Kept burnish'd [...] In antique armoury'. Wonders about the current situation, since he still grasps the ramrod in his hand because he is still waiting for replacements of 'fire-arms out of date'. Concludes by wishing that he 'could outright / Armed for effectual fight / At instantaneous call'.