Page:Flower of youth, poems in war time, Tynan, 1915.djvu/39

Rh A HERO

(September 1914)

was so foolish, the poor lad,

He made superior people smile

Who knew not of the wings he had

Budding and growing all the while;

Nor that the laurel wreath was made

Already for his curly head.

Silly and childish in his ways;

They said: "His future comes to naught."

His future! In the dreadful days

When in a toil his feet were caught

He hacked his way to glory bright

Before his day went down in night.

He fretted wiser folk—small blame!

Such futile, feeble brains were his.

Now we doff hats to hear his name,

Ask pardon where his spirit is,

Because we never guessed him for

A hero in the disguise he wore.