Explore "Before the War" by C.J. Dennis on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
"BEFORE the war," she sighs. "Before the war. " / Then blinks 'er eyes, an' tries to work a smile. / "Ole scenes," she sez, "don't look the same no more. / Ole ways," she sez, "seems to 'ave changed their style, / The pleasures that we 'ad don't seem worth while -- / Them simple joys that passed an hour away -- / An' troubles, that we used to so revile, / 'Ow small they look," she sez. "Ow small to-day.
"This war! " sighs ole Mar Flood. An' when I seen / The ole girl sittin' in our parlour there, / Tellin' 'er troubles to my wife, Doreen, / As though the talkin' eased 'er load uv care, / I thinks uv mothers, 'ere an' everywhere, / Smilin' a bit while they are grievin' sore / For grown-up babies, fightin' Over There; / An' then I 'ears 'em sigh, "Before the war."