Rookie rhymes, by the men of the 1st and 2nd provisional training regiments, Plattsburg, New York

A lively scrapbook of verse and song, this collection captures the everyday rhythm of young men freshly assembled at a New York training camp in the summer of 1917. Written by the soldiers themselves, the pieces range from earnest odes about duty and home to cheeky parodies that poke fun at drill sergeants, uniforms and the sudden rush of military life. The poems convey a mix of nervous anticipation and budding pride, offering listeners a genuine glimpse of what it felt like to swap civilian routines for camp routines.

The anthology is organized into two parts: short poems that sketch moments in the barracks, followed by a reel of marching songs and witty satires that would have echoed through mess halls and parade grounds. Accompanied by period illustrations, the verses bring the cadence of drill, the camaraderie of shared jokes, and the quiet hopes of those preparing for overseas service. Listening feels like stepping into a time‑worn diary, hearing the chorus of voices that once whispered, sang, and dreamed together at Plattsburg.