A SCRAP OF PAPER HERBERT KAUFMAN
Reading edition
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!