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From Mr. Kaufman’s book of poems, “The Hell-Gate of Soissons.” T. Fisher Unwin, Publishers (all rights reserved), London, England. Special permission to reproduce in this book.

“Just for a word, ‘neutrality’ … just for a scrap of paper, Great Britain was going to make war.”—The German Chancellor to the British Ambassador in Berlin.

JUST for a “scrap of paper,”

Just for a Nation’s word,

Just for a clean tradition,

Just for a treaty slurred;

Just for a pledge defaulted,

Just for a dastard blow,

Just for an ally’s summons,

Just for a friend struck low;

Just for the weal of progress,

Just for a trust held dear,

Just for the rights of mankind,

Just for a duty clear;

Just for a Prussian insult,

Just for a splendid cause,

Just for the hope of progress,

Just for the might of laws;

Just for the kingdom’s peril,

Just for a deed of shame,

Just for defense of honor,

Just for the British name!