Robert W. Service
* The French “Tommy”.
Oh, some of us lolled in the chateau,
And some of us slinked in the slum;
But now we are here with a song and a cheer
To serve at the sign of the drum.
They put us in trousers of scarlet,
In big sloppy ulsters of blue;
In boots that are flat, a box of a hat,
And they call us the little piou-piou,
Piou-piou,
The laughing and quaffing piou-piou,
The swinging and singing piou-piou;
And so with a rattle we march to the battle,
The weary but cheery piou-piou.
Encore un petit verre de vin,
Pour nous mettre en route;
Encore un petit verre de vin
Pour nous mettre en train.
They drive us head-on for the slaughter;
We haven’t got much of a chance;
The issue looks bad, but we’re awfully glad
To battle and die for La France.
For some must be killed, that is certain;
There’s only one’s duty to do;
So we leap to the fray in the glorious way
They expect of the little piou-piou.
En avant!
The way of the gallant piou-piou,
The dashing and smashing piou-piou;
The way grim and gory that leads us to glory
Is the way of the little piou-piou.
Allons, enfants de la Patrie,
Le jour de gloire est arrivé.
To-day you would scarce recognise us,
Such veterans war-wise are we;
So grimy and hard, so calloused and scarred,
So “crummy”, yet gay as can be.
We’ve finished with trousers of scarlet,
They’re giving us breeches of blue,
With a helmet instead of a cap on our head,
Yet still we’re the little piou-piou.
Nous les aurons!
The jesting, unresting piou-piou;
The cheering, unfearing piou-piou;
The keep-your-head-level and fight-like-the-devil;
The dying, defying piou-piou.
À la bayonette! Jusqu’à la mort!
Sonnez la charge, clairons!
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Analysis (AI Assisted)
This poem captures the spirited, paradoxical nature of soldiers in war—particularly the French soldiers known as “piou-piou” during World War I. The term “piou-piou” refers to the light-hearted nickname for French infantrymen, evoking the image of a carefree, almost childlike soldier. The poem presents the duality of their existence: soldiers bound to march into battle, facing death, yet still maintaining a resilient, even joyful attitude as they go.
The first stanza introduces the piou-piou in a casual, jovial light. Despite the serious nature of war, the poem begins with an upbeat march to battle. The soldiers wear a mix of colorful uniforms—”trousers of scarlet” and “big sloppy ulsters of blue”—which gives a sense of absurdity in contrast to the grim reality of war. Their uniforms, out of place for the battlefield, emphasize the disconnect between the soldiers’ appearance and the brutal task ahead. The use of “piou-piou” in a rhythmic, almost sing-song fashion adds a lightness, as if the soldiers are marching cheerfully into something they don’t fully comprehend.
The phrase “Encore un petit verre de vin” (another small glass of wine) underscores this carefree attitude. It’s a toast to ease the mind before the fight, a gesture that might seem foolish in the face of inevitable danger, but it also suggests the soldiers’ need to cling to moments of levity before they face what they know is coming.
As the poem progresses, it delves into the grim reality of battle. The soldiers are aware of the inevitable violence they will face, but there’s no room for doubt or fear. Instead, they take pride in their duty: “Some must be killed, that is certain; There’s only one’s duty to do.” The tone here shifts, and the earlier lightheartedness gives way to a grim acceptance of death. But still, the piou-piou face it with courage, humor, and a sense of honor. They march “with a rattle” into battle, a symbol of both their physical wear and their unwillingness to be broken by the war.
The mention of “La France” ties the soldiers’ sacrifice to national pride. Despite the chaos and violence, their actions are framed as a glorious duty in service of their country. The battle is framed as inevitable and necessary, and they embrace it with the same enthusiasm as their songs and laughter.
As the poem shifts to their transformation into battle-hardened veterans, the soldiers are described as “grim and hard” but still “gay as can be.” Even after experiencing the horrors of war, they retain some of their original youthful energy and joie de vivre, reflected in their constant cheerfulness and ability to laugh in the face of death. The final stanzas speak to their endurance, their readiness to keep fighting even after the horrors they’ve witnessed, and their defiant attitude as they march into further battles.
The closing line, “Sonnez la charge, clairons!” (Sound the charge, trumpets!), is a call to action, reminding us that no matter how exhausted or scarred they become, the piou-piou continue to answer the call with enthusiasm, almost as if they are compelled to by some ingrained sense of duty.
Overall, the poem captures the contradiction at the heart of the soldiers’ experience: the tragic futility of war juxtaposed with the unwavering spirit of those who fight it. The piou-piou are not just soldiers; they are emblematic of the resilience and absurdity of human life in war—suffering, yet somehow able to maintain humor and a sense of purpose. The poem’s structure, rhythm, and language mirror this paradox, with its light, sing-song elements contrasting with the underlying tragedy of the war experience.