A Brave Friend Poem by Robert Winthrop

I had a friend who lost a leg
While in the war in France,
And with this loss he also lost
The chance to run and dance.

The wound was so severe, you see,
(He barely had a stump)
They did not think he'd walk again,
Much less to run and jump.

Through pain and tears he learned to walk,
And walking set him free.
He then went back to college
And earned his first degree.

Each day with belts around his waist
His leg was strapped on tight.
And off he went to teach his class,
But he had earned the right

To moan about the way that fate
Had dealt him such a blow,
But not once did this friend complain;
He had no tales of woe.

He roamed the world on plane and ship
And stood up straight and tall
For when it came to living,
He'd a leg up on us all.