Carentan O Carentan

 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 spoke¹

    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 leopard² 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 cowardice³，

    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 twigs⁴ 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.

    Lieutenant⁵， what's my duty，

    My place in the platoon？

    He too's a sleeping beauty，

    Charmed by that strange tune⁶.

    Carentan O Carentan

    Before we met with you

    We never yet had lost a man

    Or known what death could do.