IN Paris Town, in Paris Town—'t was 'neath an April sky— I saw a regiment of the line go marching to Versailles; When white along the Bois there shone the chestnut's waxen cells, And the sun was winking on the long Lebels, @3Flic flac, flic flac,@1 on all the long Lebels! The flowers were out along the Bois, the leaves were overhead, And I saw a regiment of the line that swung in blue and red; The youth of things, the joy of things, they made my heart to beat, And the quick-step lilting and the tramp of feet! @3Flic flac, flic flac,@1 the tramping of the feet! The spikèd nuts have fallen and the leaf is dull and dry Since last I saw a regiment go marching to Versailles; And what's become of all of those that heard the music play? They trained them for the Frontier upon an August day; @3Flic flac, flic flac,@1 all on an August day! And some of them they stumbled on the slippery summer grass, And there they've left them lying with their faces to Alsace; The others—so they'd tell you—ere the chestnut's decked for Spring, Shall march beneath some linden trees to call upon a King; @3Flic flac, flic flac,@1 to call upon a King. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...NURSE'S SONG, FR. SONGS OF INNOCENCE by WILLIAM BLAKE PREJUDICE by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON THE GOUTY MERCHANT AND THE STRANGER by HORACE SMITH PESSIMIST AND OPTIMIST by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH PSALM 113 by OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE |