Through sleet and fogs to the saline bogs <br /> Where the herring fish meanders, <br />An army sped, and then, 't is said, <br /> Swore terribly in Flanders: <br /> "--------!" <br /> "--------!" <br />A hideous store of oaths they swore, <br /> Did the army over in Flanders! <br /> <br />At this distant day we're unable to say <br /> What so aroused their danders; <br />But it's doubtless the case, to their lasting disgrace, <br /> That the army swore in Flanders: <br /> "--------!" <br /> "--------!" <br />And many more such oaths they swore, <br /> Did that impious horde in Flanders! <br /> <br />Some folks contend that these oaths without end <br /> Began among the commanders, <br />That, taking this cue, the subordinates, too, <br /> Swore terribly in Flanders: <br /> Twas "------------!" <br /> "--------" <br /> <br />Why, the air was blue with the hullaballoo <br /> Of those wicked men in Flanders! <br /> <br />But some suppose that the trouble arose <br /> With a certain Corporal Sanders, <br />Who sought to abuse the wooden shoes <br /> That the natives wore in Flanders. <br /> Saying: "--------!" <br /> "--------" <br /> <br />What marvel then, that the other men <br /> Felt encouraged to swear in Flanders! <br />At any rate, as I grieve to state, <br /> Since these soldiers vented their danders <br />Conjectures obtain that for language profane <br /> There is no such place as Flanders. <br /> "--------" <br /> "--------" <br /> <br />This is the kind of talk you'll find <br /> If ever you go to Flanders. <br />How wretched is he, wherever he be, <br /> That unto this habit panders! <br />And how glad am I that my interests lie <br /> In Chicago, and not in Flanders! <br /> "----------------!" <br /> "----------------!" <br /> <br />Would never go down in this circumspect town <br />However it might in Flanders.<br /><br />Eugene Field<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/in-flanders/
