<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">Just Thinking</h1><p class="byline"> HUDSON HAWLEY <br xmlns:exist="http://exist.sourceforge.net/NS/exist" xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"/><span class="smallcaps">IN The And Stripes, A. E. F., France</span></p><div class="stanza"><p class="line">STANDIN' up here ou the fire--step, </p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Lookin' ahead in the mist,</p><p class="line">With a tin hat over your ivory</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And a rifle clutched in your fist;</p><p class="line">Waitin' and watchin' and wond'rin' </p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">If the Hun's comin' over tonight--</p><p class="line">Say, aren't the things you think of </p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Enough to give you a fright?</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Things you ain't even thought of</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">For a couple a' months or more;</p><p class="line">Things that 'ull set you laughin',</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Things that 'till make you sore;</p><p class="line">Things that von saw in the movies,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Things that you saw on the street, </p><p class="line">Things that you're really proud of </p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Things that are--not so sweet;</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Debts that are past collectin',</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Stories you hear and forget,</p><p class="line">Ball games and birthday parties,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Hours of drill in the wet;</p><p class="line">Headlines, recruitin' posters,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Sunset 'way out at sea,</p><p class="line">Evenings of pay-days--golly--</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">It's a queer thing, this memory!</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Faces of pals in Homeburg,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Voices of womenfolk,</p><p class="line">Verses you learnt in schooldays</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Pop up in the mist and smoke.</p><p class="line">As you stand there grippin' that rifle, </p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">A-starin', and chilled to the bone,</p><p class="line">Wonderin' and wonderin' and wonderin',</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Just thinkin' there--all alone:</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">When will the war be over?</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">When will the gang break through?</p><p class="line">What will the U. S. look like?</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">What will there be to do?</p><p class="line">Where will the Boches be then?</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Who will have married Nell?</p><p class="line">When's the relief a-comm up'</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Gosh! But this thinkin's hell </p></div></body></html> · Great War