Classic Poem

Deep loving, well knowing
His world and its blindness,
A heart overflowing
With measureless kindness,

Undaunted in labor
(And Death was a trifle),
Steel-true as a saber,
Direct as a rifle,

All Man in his doing,
All Boy in his laughter,
He fronted, unruing,
The Now and Hereafter,

A storm-battling cedar,
A comrade, a brother —
Oh, such was our leader,
Beloved as no other!

When weaker souls faltered
His courage remade us,
Whose tongue never paltered,
Who never betrayed us.

His hand on your shoulder
All honors exceeding,
What breast but was bolder
Because he was leading!

And still in our trouble,
In peace or in war-time,
His word shall redouble
Our strength as aforetime.

When wrongs cry for righting
No odds shall appal us;
To clean, honest fighting
Again he will call us,

And, cowboys or doughboys,
We'll follow his drum, boys,
Who never said, " Go, boys! "
But always said, " Come, boys! "