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