<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="" class="head">Ode to a French Regiment</h1><h1 align="" class="head">On Finding They Had Left Behind More Stores Than We<br xmlns:exist="http://exist.sourceforge.net/NS/exist" xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"/> Had Bargained For</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line">DEAR Allies, whom we were relieving,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">When we came to the line from our rest,</p><p class="line">We came to you fondly believing</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">You would take us and give us your best.</p><p class="line">You gave us your wine in full measure,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Your rum and your coffee was nice,</p><p class="line">And as an additional pleasure</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">You left us your lice.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Oh, lice full of vigour and beauty,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">That rove where the rich blood was spilt,</p><p class="line">Do you really believe it your duty</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">To make your abode in my kilt?</p><p class="line">Do you honestly think my suspenders</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">A fit place to take your repose,</p><p class="line">And prey on your country's defenders</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Instead of her foes?</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Are you really French vermin, I wonder,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Or when the new trenches were won</p><p class="line">Did they count in the tale of their plunder</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The fleas and the lice of the Hun?</p><p class="line">Do no thoughts of my vengeance appal you</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">When at night to the battle you rise.</p><p class="line">Are you patriots, or shall I call you</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Mere traitors and spies?</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Nay, then I shall slay you, preferring</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">To think you the breed of the Bosche,</p><p class="line">Who leap from your trenches preparing</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">To feed on the vitals of Tosh,<a class="footnote" href="#mackintosh105" name="mackintosh105-link" xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">1</a></p><p class="line">When the iron of the tailor is singeing</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The pleats of the kilt that was mine,</p><p class="line">I like to think you will die singing</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The Watch on the Rhine.</p></div></body></html> · Great War