THAT'S ALL

To take this trouble seriously,

But not to gloom or whine;

To never overestimate

Our strength, or to decline

To see this is no picnic,

But do our earnest part

With brain and muscles, newly trained —

To keep a steady heart!

To fight, but not to lower

Our standards in the dust;

To meet a savage enemy

Whose words the world can n't trust.

To guard our foolish tempers —

Or keep them out of sight!

To never falter, doubt, or fear

The outcome will be right!

To laugh — whenever laughter

Is best to keep us fit;

To shake hands with privation

When face to face with it.

To give without complaining

Or boasting what we give;

To make this world a safer world

For those who have to live!

To part with old traditions

That hampered in the past;

To see that heart-wrung “aliens”

As enemies are n't classed,

But treated — while deserving it —

As human beings, too;

Just to be clean — in mind and soul —

That's all we have to do!