Oh she had the will, The courage, resolution; but at last They broke her down. And this is how it was: Her love for someone gave her zeal and grace For watching, working, caring for the sick. Her heart was in the cause too--but this love Gave beauty, passion to it. All her men Stretched out to kiss her hands. It may be true The wounded soldier is a grateful soul. But in her case they felt a warmer flame, A greater tenderness. So she won her spurs, And honors, was beloved, she had a brain, A fine intelligence. Then at the height Of her success, she disobeyed a doctor-- He was a pigmy--Elenor knew more Than he did, but you know the discipline: War looses all the hatreds, meanest traits Together with the noblest, so she crumpled, Was disciplined for this. About this time A letter to the head nurse came--there was A Miriam Fay, who by some wretched fate Was always after Elenor--it was she Who wrote the letter, and the letter said To keep a watch on Elenor, lest she snag Some officer or soldier. Elenor, Who had no caution, venturesome and brave, Wrote letters more than frank to one she loved Whose tenor leaked out through the censorship. Her lover sent her telegrams, all opened, And read first by the head nurse. So at last Too much was known, and Elenor was eyed, And whispers ran around. Those ugly girls, Who never had a man, were wagging tongues, And still her service was so radiant, So generous and skillful she survived, Helped by the officers, the leading doctors, Who liked her and defended her, perhaps In hopes of winning her--you know the game! It was through them she went to Nice; but when She came back to her duty all was ready To catch her and destroy her--envy played Its part, as you can see. Our unit broke, And some of us were sent to Germany, And some of us to other places--all Went with some chum, associate. But Elenor, Who was cut off from every one she knew, And shipped out like an animal to be With strangers, nurses, doctors, wholly strange. The head nurse passed the word along to watch her. And thus it was her spirit, once aflame For service and for country, fed and brightened By love for someone, thus was left to burn In darkness and in filth.