<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">To a Soldier in Hospital</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">Courage</span> came to you with your boyhood's grace</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">Of ardent life and limb.</p><p class="line">Each day new dangers steeled you to the test,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">To ride, to climb, to swim.</p><p class="line">Your hot blood taught you carelessness of death</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:9%">With every breath.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">So when you went to play another game</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">You could not but be brave:</p><p class="line">An Empire's team, a rougher football field,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">The end -- perhaps your grave.</p><p class="line">What matter? On the winning of a goal</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:9%">You staked your soul.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Yes, you wore courage as you wore your youth</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">With carelessness and joy.</p><p class="line">But in what Spartan school of discipline</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">Did you get patience, boy?</p><p class="line">How did you learn to bear this long-drawn pain</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:9%">And not complain?</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Restless with throbbing hopes, with thwarted aims,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">Impulsive as a colt,</p><p class="line">How do you lie here month by weary month</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">Helpless, and not revolt?</p><p class="line">What joy can these monotonous days afford</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:9%">Here in a ward?</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Yet you are merry as the birds in spring,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">Or feign the gaiety,</p><p class="line">Lest those who dress and tend your wound each day</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">Should guess the agony.</p><p class="line">Lest they should suffer -- this the only fear</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:9%">You let draw near.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Greybeard philosophy has sought in books</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">And argument this truth,</p><p class="line">That man is greater than his pain, but you</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">Have learnt it in your youth.</p><p class="line">You know the wisdom taught by Calvary</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:9%">At twenty-three.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Death would have found you brave, but braver still</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">You face each lagging day,</p><p class="line">A merry Stoic, patient, chivalrous,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">Divinely kind and gay.</p><p class="line">You bear your knowledge lightly, graduate</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:9%">Of unkind Fate.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Careless philosopher, the first to laugh,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">The latest to complain,</p><p class="line">Unmindful that you teach, you taught me this</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">In your long fight with pain:</p><p class="line">Since God made man so good -- here stands my creed --</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:9%">God's good indeed.</p></div><p class="byline">Winifred M. Letts</p></body></html> · Great War