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.