The poem “BOOTS” by Rudyard Kipling was published in 1903 and imagines the repetitive thoughts of a British Army infantryman marching in South Africa during the Second Boer War. It has been suggested for the first four words of each line to be read slowly, at a rate of two words per second, to match with the cadence, or rhythm of a foot soldier marching. Here, American actor Taylor Holmes does just that in this 1915 recording.
This will bring back memories to many of our readers who have graduated from one of America’s schools of higher learning in the craft of survival.


Little behind the power curve. Since the release of the first trailer of 28 years later, back in December, people are aware of this poem.
Yeah, well I was aware of it in 1991 when I went to SERE school for the first time.
Ok, thanks
The FIRST time?!?!? God be with you.
To tell you the truth, Yoko Ono is the one that’ll really cause me flashbacks.
THERE’S NO DISCHARGE IN THE WAR!
Feels like just yesterday… how the time flies.