It's called Landhaus Effeld now
But it's looks pretty much the same,
Though they've added an extension
And, of course, changed its name.
This was Gasthaus Buchen
In my much younger days
Where, night after night,
I'd just sit there and gaze
At Frau Ellie Buchen sat
Behind the bar on her stool,
Watch her every movement like
A teenage lovelorn young fool.
Ellie would chat and smile
Sometimes even gently flirt
But in such a kind way
That I never felt hurt.
The early morning walk back
Through the wooded land
A pack of Ellis's sandwiches
Clutched tightly in my hand
Until at the little clearing,,
On the little roadside seat
We'd take a short break
And Just sit there and eat.
For more than two years
I'd worshipped her from afar
Night after night sitting
Drinking there in her bar.
Of course I grew wiser
So that in the end
Ellie just became
A very much loved friend.
Circumstances meant
I couldn't even say goodbye,
I suppose I could have written
But I didn't even try.
Probably just a another squaddie
Through her experienced eyes
My youthful infatuation
Coming as no real surprise,
A long way from home,
Square peg in a round hole
For a while I'd desired her
With my whole heart and soul.
I'm back after fifty years
And of course it's too late
I've been back to the seat
Where we'd all sat and ate.
I've stood at the door
But I couldn't go inside,
Too many emotions that
I don't think I could hide,
It's probably been modernised
As the years have rolled on,
Ellie's bar and her stool will
Probably now be long gone.
So many year ago but
I know I still care
So if I don't go inside
In my mind she's still there.
The Hotel Landhaus Effeld now
Though it looks much the same
Except they've extended it
And gone and changed its name.
