Exhortation to the Enlisted

'Tis heroic to charge into battle.
'Tis noble to die for the right.
But it requires a far greater person
To linger and valiantly fight.

It is courage, I ask, my dear fellow.
To wield your sword brave and true.
To remember the cause that we fight for
And never give up ‘til it's through.

Then after you've dealt with this conflict, and
Per chance the opponent's retreat;
You may wish to relax for a moment
And relish the victory sweet.

Or perhaps you might lose this small skirmish
And forced by the foe to retrench,
Your once noble courage now waning, and
The victory sweet's now a stench.

But whatever the day's final outcome
And whether we live or we die
I ask you my friend to remember, that
The conflict is constantly nigh.

We therefore must never surrender, and
There's really no time for a rest.
We need always remain at our vigil
And ceaselessly strive for our best.