Honor Among Scamps

Vachel Lindsay

We are the smirched.  Queen Honor is the spotless.
We slept thro’ wars where Honor could not sleep.
We were faint-hearted.  Honor was full-valiant.
We kept a silence Honor could not keep.

Yet this late day we make a song to praise her.
We, codeless, will yet vindicate her code.
She who was mighty, walks with us, the beggars.
The merchants drive her out upon the road.

She makes a throne of sod beside our campfire.
We give the maiden-queen our rags and tears.
A battered, rascal guard have rallied round her,
To keep her safe until the better years.

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