Melodious Teuton troops

Beguile us, calmly smoking,

On balconies and stoops.

With eyes half-shut, and dreamy,

We watch the fire-flies' spark,

And image far-off faces,

As day dies into dark.

The avenue is lonely,

The houses choked with dust;

The shutters, barred and bolted,

The bell-knobs all a-rust.

No blossom-like spring dresses,

No faces young and fair,

From "Dickel's" to "The Brunswick,"

No promenader there.

The girls we used to walk with

Are far away, alas!

The feet that kissed its pavement

Are deep in country grass.

Along the scented hedge-rows,

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