<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">The Crutches' Tune</h1><p class="byline"> ELIZABETH R. STONER <br xmlns:exist="http://exist.sourceforge.net/NS/exist" xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"/><span class="smallcaps">IN Everybody's Magazine</span></p><div class="stanza"><p class="line">DOWN the street, with a lilting swing, </p><p class="line">Each so bright that never a thing </p><p class="line">Seemed to harass, so proud were they</p><p class="line">One leg gone, but their hearts were gay</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Clickety clack, went the crutches' tune.</p><p class="line">God! How can they be brave so soon! </p><p class="line">Brave, when I can not keep back the tears, </p><p class="line">Thinking ahead of the crippled years.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">With a rhythmic swing they passed me by, </p><p class="line">And although, at first, I wanted to cry, </p><p class="line">I didn't, because on each smiling face </p><p class="line">Was the peace of God and the pride of race.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">And the splendid pair, each with one leg gone, </p><p class="line">Swung out of sight to the crutches' song. </p><p class="line">And I thought I would give all my future joys </p><p class="line">To feel just like those Canadian boys.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">All night long, like an ancient rune, </p><p class="line">Rang through my dreams the crutches' tune. </p><p class="line">I shall never forget, though I'm old and gray, </p><p class="line">The sang that the crutches sang that day. </p></div></body></html> · Great War