to speak of valour is no great mistake when each of us confronts the howling gale those who are ready when the sandbags fail know what is meant when city turns to lake each of them is that moment wide awake while in their corners all the cowards quail left with no benefit save their own stale as even stoutest bodies bend and shake words that are spoken in the autumn sun lose all their purchase during winter's turn but are the currency of many schools repenting of their choices no one's done before they see their youthful wishes burn and know themselves for ordinary fools