Judge — April 13, 1918 — page 3: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Man Who Stayed Behind" by Owen B. Winters This poem satirizes a man left stateside while others deploy militarily. The illustration shows soldiers marching toward boats while a figure remains behind, gesturing futilely. The speaker boasts of military service ("Islands," "Cuba," "Pekin to Honolulu"), but now watches others depart while he's sidelined—apparently due to a knee injury ("medico won't let me go, / For my right's off at the knee"). The satire targets the emotional conflict: his embarrassment at staying behind while displaying patriotic enthusiasm ("cheer and a hearty / 'Here, here!'") masks frustration at missing action. The title and subtitle ("As They're Headin' For Their Boat") emphasize his exclusion from military service, likely referencing early-20th-century American military engagements.