THE town is very gay to-day,
And down our busy street
Flags wave, and all the balconies
Are filled, our men to greet.
One night, not very long ago,
I heard them marching down
To where their ship lay, and the sound
So filled the silent town
With farewell voices that I wept
To know no word or deed
Of mine had stirred the sleeping night,
To bid our men God-speed.
The town is very gay to-day,
And in our busy street,
My eyes are dim with tears for those
I neither sped nor greet.