• By and by the soldiers filed,
    each one lead by fortunes' child.
    Holding stead their guns and swords,
    as they left their peaceful world.

    Their faces shone with cour'ge and joy,
    and mothers watched their foolish boys.
    And in the air, the sound of laughter,
    from one who knew all fate there-after.

    From one who knew the silent grove
    had yet to see the death and dread
    that soon would turn
    the green to red.

    And as the women watched and cried,
    the men marched toward the other side.
    And fortunes' child would watch and wait,
    and each young man would know his fate,
    for none were there who would return.

    And fortuns' child would wander free,
    as human man met destiny,