after GK Chesterton

“For Honour!” cries the foolish wretch
“I cannot compromise!”
The modern wise philosopher
Just shakes their head and sighs.

What use is honour to us now
Except for making waves?
Go with the flow, to stand one’s ground
Is no way to behave.

You’ll make the rest of us look bad
With your old-fashioned views.
You’ll have to change the way you feel
Or be declared a prude.

Oh, keep your stupid honour then;
But you and I are done!
For honour is a foolish thing —
I’m proud to say I’ve none.

“Men were ashamed of honour; but we were not ashamed”
— From the dedication poem for The Man Who was Thursday