Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Poem
January 5, 1919
The Evening Caledonian
Saint Johnsbury, Caledonia County, Vermont
What is this article about?
A satirical poem from a WWI doughboy's perspective, expressing frustration that the war continues despite claims it is over, depicting harsh conditions in France with mud, rain, hikes, and military routines.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
THE DOUGHBOY SPEAKS
(By Lieut. Grantland Rice)
Sludging through the mud of France
Camping in the rain;
Hiking in a frozen trance
Down some German plain;
"Fall in!"—hear the sergeant yell,
Far from home and clover;
Tell me, who the bally hell
Said the war "was over"?
Chow for breakfast—slum for noon—
Who says men are free
While the bugler's foolish tune
Pipes the reveille?
"Right dress!"—hear the sergeant
buzz
From Maine across to Dover;
Tell me who the hell it wuz
Said the war "was over"?
Cleaning up a mass of wire,
Stained with clotted blood,
Where the big trucks bog and mire
In the winter mud;
Full of filth and fleas and fuzz,
Cannoneer—and drover,
Tell me who the fat-head wuz
Said the war was over"?
(By Lieut. Grantland Rice)
Sludging through the mud of France
Camping in the rain;
Hiking in a frozen trance
Down some German plain;
"Fall in!"—hear the sergeant yell,
Far from home and clover;
Tell me, who the bally hell
Said the war "was over"?
Chow for breakfast—slum for noon—
Who says men are free
While the bugler's foolish tune
Pipes the reveille?
"Right dress!"—hear the sergeant
buzz
From Maine across to Dover;
Tell me who the hell it wuz
Said the war "was over"?
Cleaning up a mass of wire,
Stained with clotted blood,
Where the big trucks bog and mire
In the winter mud;
Full of filth and fleas and fuzz,
Cannoneer—and drover,
Tell me who the fat-head wuz
Said the war was over"?
What sub-type of article is it?
Satire
Ballad
What themes does it cover?
War Military
What keywords are associated?
Doughboy
War Over
Soldier Life
France Mud
Sergeant Yell
German Plain
Reveille
Winter Mud
What entities or persons were involved?
By Lieut. Grantland Rice
Poem Details
Title
The Doughboy Speaks
Author
By Lieut. Grantland Rice
Form / Style
Rhymed Quatrains
Key Lines
Sludging Through The Mud Of France
Camping In The Rain;
Hiking In A Frozen Trance
Down Some German Plain;
"Fall In!"—Hear The Sergeant Yell,
Far From Home And Clover;
Tell Me, Who The Bally Hell
Said The War "Was Over"?
Tell Me Who The Hell It Wuz
Said The War "Was Over"?
Tell Me Who The Fat Head Wuz
Said The War Was Over"?