In flanders

Eugene Field 1850 (St. Louis) – 1895 (Chicago)



Through sleet and fogs to the saline bogs
 Where the herring fish meanders,
An army sped, and then, 't is said,
 Swore terribly in Flanders:
   "--------!"
   "--------!"
A hideous store of oaths they swore,
 Did the army over in Flanders!

At this distant day we're unable to say
 What so aroused their danders;
But it's doubtless the case, to their lasting disgrace,
 That the army swore in Flanders:
   "--------!"
   "--------!"
And many more such oaths they swore,
 Did that impious horde in Flanders!

Some folks contend that these oaths without end
 Began among the commanders,
That, taking this cue, the subordinates, too,
 Swore terribly in Flanders:
     Twas "------------!"
     "--------"

Why, the air was blue with the hullaballoo
 Of those wicked men in Flanders!

But some suppose that the trouble arose
 With a certain Corporal Sanders,
Who sought to abuse the wooden shoes
 That the natives wore in Flanders.
     Saying: "--------!"
     "--------"

What marvel then, that the other men
 Felt encouraged to swear in Flanders!
At any rate, as I grieve to state,
 Since these soldiers vented their danders
Conjectures obtain that for language profane
 There is no such place as Flanders.
     "--------"
     "--------"

This is the kind of talk you'll find
 If ever you go to Flanders.
How wretched is he, wherever he be,
 That unto this habit panders!
And how glad am I that my interests lie
 In Chicago, and not in Flanders!
     "----------------!"
     "----------------!"

Would never go down in this circumspect town
However it might in Flanders.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

1:16 min read
70

Quick analysis:

Scheme abxB cb xaxb cb xbxBx db xbxbx xbxaxb xbxadb xb
Closest metre Iambic trimeter
Characters 1,525
Words 259
Stanzas 8
Stanza Lengths 8, 8, 6, 2, 6, 8, 8, 2

Eugene Field

Eugene Field, Sr. was an American writer, best known for his children's poetry and humorous essays. more…

All Eugene Field poems | Eugene Field Books

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