Rebuke

I paused in the still September day To salute a comrade along the way; "A comrade in arms" I almost said And smiled at such nonsense, for instead The battle waged was a silent one; No sign of sword, or sound of gun— A fragrant violet quite alone Was growing there in a path of stone.

Flung down, no doubt, by some vagrant breeze In shade of the mighty redwood trees. What hours of dread did it bravely meet When men passed by on hurrying feet? With courage bred in the wintry gloom And valiant heart it had dared to bloom! Alone in the barren soil it grew And by my side there is always—you!