IN THE CITY
Because beneath grey Northern skies Some grey hulls heave and fall The merchants sell their merchandise All just as usual Our cargoes sail for man's content The same as yesterday And war-risk's down to 2 per cent., The underwriters say. The clerks they sit with page and pen And fill the desks a-row Because outside of Cuxhaven There's them to make it so; We go to lunch, as natural From one o'clock till two Because outside of Kiel Canal There's those that let us do. We check and add our pass-books up Or keep our weekly Boards Unhampered by the works of KRUPP And all the KAISER'S swords; At five o'clock we have our tea And catch our usual bus So thank the LORD for those at sea Who guard the likes of us.
From: Punch August 26, 1914, p. 181