THE DISAPPOINTED

There's a Red Cross Button on his left lapel,

And a Liberty Bond pin on his right;

There's a U. S. flag above the Red Cross, too;

His patriotism's never out of sight!

His loyalty is spread on his hollow breast

( And sometimes he's pathetic, I confess ),

But the button that he's most ashamed to wear

Is the one that reads

There's an aching heart in his -chest,

There's a look of deep longing in his eyes;

Behind his heavy glasses there gleams a hope

That maybe he can grow an inch in size!

There's a hero-throb in the heart of that boy,

Though he wears too much “scenery” — ah, yes!—

But the badge that hurts he really tries to hide —

It's the one that reads

You fellows that are in — have a heart for those

Who want to be, but can n't! For they must know

A bitterness of soul you can never feel —

They have n't got a chance on earth to go!

So it's, “Stay back home with the old and unfit,”

( There's nothing else to do but that, I guess! )

The badge he'd be glad to throw a mile away

Is the one that reads