The Royal Guard

Saw a photo in The Times –
The Royal Guard on view,
With tall black hats and perfect posture –
Nothing very new.

But on the ground nearby there lay
A member of the group
Who’d fainted ‘cause his furry hat
Most likely made him droop.

The heat was quite intense that day.
The fact that he was prone
Was not a big surprise, but he
Was passed out all alone.

Not one stiff soldier broke the ranks
To lend a helping hand,
For courtesy just doesn’t count
As much as a command.

A picture’s worth a thousand words,
As the expression goes.
If that were me, I’d not forgive
The guards in those neat rows.