In Flanders

Through sleet and fogs to the saline bogs     Where the herring fish meanders,     An army sped, and then, 't is said,     Swore terribly in Flanders:     "--------!"     "--------!"     A hideous store of oaths they swore,     Did the army over in Flanders!     At this distant day we're unable to say     What so aroused their danders;     But it's doubtless the case, to their lasting disgrace,     That the army swore in Flanders:     "--------!"     "--------!"     And many more such oaths they swore,     Did that impious horde in Flanders!     Some folks contend that these oaths without end     Began among the commanders,     That, taking this cue, the subordinates, too,     Swore terribly in Flanders:     Twas "------------!"     "--------"     Why, the air was blue with the hullaballoo     Of those wicked men in Flanders!     But some suppose that the trouble arose     With a certain Corporal Sanders,     Who sought to abuse the wooden shoes     That the natives wore in Flanders.     Saying: "--------!"     "--------"     What marvel then, that the other men     Felt encouraged to swear in Flanders!     At any rate, as I grieve to state,     Since these soldiers vented their danders     Conjectures obtain that for language profane     There is no such place as Flanders.     "--------"     "--------"     This is the kind of talk you'll find     If ever you go to Flanders.     How wretched is he, wherever he be,     That unto this habit panders!     And how glad am I that my interests lie     In Chicago, and not in Flanders!     "----------------!"     "----------------!"     Would never go down in this circumspect town     However it might in Flanders.