Work-a-day Warriors/The Star-Shell

by Joseph Lee

THE STAR-SHELL

(WITH APOLOGIES TO THE GENTLE SHADE OF JANE TAYLOR)

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
I know just what the 'ell you are,
Up above the trench so high,
Like some d——— arc-lamp in the sky!

When the blinking sun is gone,
When 'e nothing shines upon,
The Allemand throws up your light,
Twinkle, twinkle all the night.

Then the Tommy in the dark
Thanks you for your tiny spark—
(I don't think!)
Fritz wouldn't guess our little go
If you did not twinkle so!

But as it is 'e opens fire,
Ketching us working at our wire—
("Keep still, you blokes; get on yer knees,
And freeze, ye bloomin' blighters, freeze!)

Oft in the trench my watch I keep,
And o'er the parapet I peep,
But Lordy! I must mind my eye,
When you go soaring through the sky!

Or when I'm out upon patrol,
I've got to flop into a hole—
Well do I know just what you are—Hell!—
(There goes another !)
Twinkle, twinkle, little star-shell!