Forum: Lost Stories

Some time ago I read a poem that I liked, but I can't find it at all. I think it was written by Kipling called "Front Line Trench". I group of officers are touring the lines of trenches lead by a sargent. The sargent whispers the answers to questions. In the final verse someone asks how for away the enomy is, the sargent whispers X number of miles. When asked why they are whislering, the srgens answers, "Because I have a cold.

I know it was never posted here, but I thought somebody could help me. Thanks.

RT

I just did a quick search of Kipling titles listed by the Kipling Society, there is no poem listed under "Trench" and only two With "Front" one about a front door and one about arithmetic on the frontier. I will see if I can find a compendium of his poems and search further. I tied Owens but nothing popped at me.

Sorry,limab

Pershing at the Front by Arthur Guiterman

Pershing at the Front
The General came in a new tin hat
To the shell-torn front where the war was at;
With a faithful Aide at his good right hand
He made his way toward No Man's Land,
And a tough Top Sergeant there they found,
And a Captain, too, to show them round.

Threading the ditch, their heads bent low,
Toward the lines of the watchful foe
They came through the murk and the powder stench
Till the Sergeant whispered, "Third-line trench!"
And the Captain whispered, "Third-line trench!"
And the Aide repeated, "Third-line trench!"
And Pershing answered- not in French-
"Yes, I see it. Third-line trench."

Again they marched with wary tread,
Following on where the Sergeant led
Through the wet and the muck as well,
Till they came to another parallel.
They halted there in the mud and drench,
And the Sergeant whispered, "Second-line trench!"
And the Captain whispered, "Second-line trench!"
And the Aide repeated, "Second-line trench!"
And Pershing nodded: "Second-line trench!"

Yet on they went through mire like pitch
Till they came to a fine and spacious ditch
Well camouflaged from planes and Zeps
Where soldiers stood on firing steps
And a Major sat on a wooden bench;
And the Sergeant whispered, "First-line trench!"
And the Captain whispered, "First-line trench!"
And the Aide repeated, "First-line trench!"
And Pershing whispered, "Yes, I see.
How far off is the enemy?"
And the faithful Aide he asked, asked he,
"How far off is the enemy?"
And the Captain breathed in a softer key,
"How far off is the enemy?"

The silence lay in heaps and piles
And the Sergeant whispered, "Just three miles."
And the Captain whispered, "Just three miles."
And the Aide repeated, "Just three miles."
"Just three miles!" the General swore,
"What in the heck are we whispering for?"
And the faithful Aide the message bore,
"What in the heck are we whispering for?"
And the Captain said in a gentle roar,
"What in the heck are we whispering for?"
"Whispering for?" the echo rolled;
And the Sergeant whispered, "I have a cold."

My hat is off to Sparky-1953

Thanks to all.