by Louis Simpson

　　Trees in the old days used to stand　　And shape a shady lane　　Where lovers wandered hand in hand　　Who came from Carentan.

　　This was the shining green canal　　Where we came two by two　　Walking at combat-interval.　　Such trees we never knew.　　The day was early June， the ground　　Was soft and bright with dew.

　　Far away the guns did sound，　　But here the sky was blue.　　The sky was blue， but there a smoke　　Hung still above the sea　　Where the ships together spoke　　To towns we could not see.

　　Could you have seen us through a glass　　You would have said a walk　　Of farmers out to turn the grass，　　Each with his own hay-fork.　　The watchers in their leopard suits　　Waited till it was time，　　And aimed between the belt and boot　　And let the barrel climb.　I must lie down at once， there is　　A hammer at my knee.　　And call it death or cowardice，　　Don't count again on me.

　　Everything's all right， Mother，　　Everyone gets the same　　At one time or another.　　It's all in the game.　　I never strolled， nor ever shall，　　Down such a leafy lane.　　I never drank in a canal，　　Nor ever shall again.　　There is a whistling in the leaves　　And it is not the wind，　　The twigs are falling from the knives　　That cut men to the ground.　　Tell me， Master-Sergeant，　　The way to turn and shoot.

　　But the Sergeant's silent　　That taught me how to do it.　　O Captain， show us quickly　　Our place upon the map.　　But the Captain's sickly　　And taking a long nap.　　Lieutenant， what's my duty，　　My place in the platoon?　　He too's a sleeping beauty，　　Charmed by that strange tune.　　Carentan O Carentan　　Before we met with you　　We never yet had lost a man　　Or known what death could do.