drilled and drilled
and twiddled
be a hero
months of monotonous life
with smalltime
religious education
be a hero
patted and
complimented
be a hero
death struggles
be a hero
smiles of the girls
and old men
be a hero
months of
life meals
be a hero
a little war
growing within
be a hero
lavish expenditure
be a hero
secular education of
pickles and cheese
be a hero
fed and caressed
be a hero
for the youth
had believed
old ideas
Mike Ferguson
Illustration Nick Victor
[found in The Red Badge of Courage – Stephen Crane]