Illustration by Joseph Lee from 'Work-a-day Warriors' by Joseph Lee, published in 1917
A WAYSIDE ESTAMINET IN FLANDERS
THE ESTAMINET
The Recreation Hut is dull, The Dry Canteen is dry, And some'ow neither seems designed For soldiers sich as I; I likes some family comfort And I likes some fireside cheer What time I am partaking of My little drop o' beer― And so it is I spend my pay Within the old Estamin-ay! Deux bier, Mademoiselle, sil vous play!
It's 'Ome Sweet 'Ome from twelve to two, Likewise from six to eight, And there I sits and pulls my pipe And parleys with my mate; We sits and parleys 'bout the war And if it's going to end— (What a hope!) And when the old clock strikes weet heur We up and homewards wend— And so when we can draw five francs We do not put it in no banks! Encore une bier, sil vous play!
And when our appetites is sharp, And we have got the spoof, We have a plate o' pomme de terre, Du pang, buerre, an oof; And if the morning's very cold Then in by stealth I come, And blarney Marie till I gets A café—avec rhum! Vite! M.P. hovering o'er the way Might close the old Estamin-ay! Bon santé Mademoiselle! Policemans no regardez moi!
Marie is très complaisant; She is full o' woman's wile, With an expansive bosom, And an expansive smile; And sometimes I have pondered If it might not come to be That I might marry Marie— If Marie 'd marry me— And spend the evening of my day Within this old Estamin-ay! Ah non, Monsieur! Reste tranquille!—Après la guerre!
Illustration by Joseph Lee from 'Work-a-day Warriors' by Joseph Lee, published in 1917
THE WAGGONER
Illustration by Joseph Lee from 'Work-a-day Warriors' by Joseph Lee, published in 1917
REFUGEES SHELTERING IN AN ESTAMINET DURING BOMBARDMENT
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