Active Service

We had a “call” from “somewhere” in the good old Nutmeg State,

To go somewhere, to do something before it was too late;

We knew not what, nor knew not where, the Cap’n could not say,

But this we knew: in double time, we were upon our way.

We marched up to the station where we took an east bound train,

An’ thought ‘twas Nova Scotia, or perhaps the coast of Maine.

We rode an’ rode, for hours it seemed, an’ then detrained at last

And camped upon a rugged brink where waters thundered past.

Next morn when “Reveille” was blown, by our young bugler prime,

We saw across the frozen wastes the no man’s land of Lyme!

And in the haze we soon beheld two monster strands of steel

Whose unprotected arms swung out to us in mute appeal.

The day was cold, the fire was slow, our appetites were prime,

An’ this is whaty we softly sang, to while away the time:

We’re havin’ _____ for breakfast,

   An’ gee, it’s tastin’ great;

The Q.M. didn’t buy it -

    Wake up, you’re sleepin’ late.

We’re havin’ _____ for dinner,

Here’s my respects to Sherman,

    War’s what he said it was!”

The guards were posted here an’ there, an’ things got under way;

The boys were good as regulars, which is a lot to say.

The enemy, if he came near, just beat it out o’ sight,

But o’ it was so different to do the job at night!

A certain private was dispatched to guard the end in Lyme,

(I will not give his name because he might be held for crime)

He heard a noise beside the road an’ challenged mighty quick,

An’ gettin’ no response his Krag begun to rise an’ click;

Again he called for friend or foe an’ clasped the trigger tight,

An then a sharp an’ wicked flash cut through the spates of night.

A spring, a groan, a sickly thud, a silence for all time,

An’ enemy lay dead upon the No Man’s Land O’ Lyme!

We’re havin’ veal for dinner,

    An’ gee it’s tastin’ fine!

The Q.M. didn’t buy it -

    ‘Tain’t no affair o’mine.

We’re havin’ veal for dinner,

    O’ rally round the spread!

Here’s my regards to Sherman -

    War isn’t what he said!

              Mar. 5, 1918