THE SMALL BLUE BUTTON

FASTEN ON THE SMALL BLUE BUTTON
WITH THE SQUARE AND COMPASSES BRIGHT
A MEMENTO OF THE EVENING
WHEN I FIRST BEHELD IT LIGHT
WITH THE PLEASANT RECOLLECTION
OF THE COMRADES WHO WERE THERE
WHO HAVE PLEDGED THEIR FOND AFFECTIONS
A POND THE COMPASSES AND THE SQUARE

I WILL WEAR MY SMALL BLUE BUTTON
AS I JOURNEY TO AND FRO AND
LET THE LESSONS THAT IT TEACHES
FILL MY LIFE WHERE’ERE I WILL GO
THAT THE FRIENDS WITH WHOM I TRAVEL
MAY BEHOLD THE EMBLEM THERE AND
MAY GAUGE ME ON MY SMALL BLUE BUTTON
WITH THE COMPASSES AND THE SQUARE

WHEN MY LIFE ON EARTH IS OVER
AND NO MORE MY MOON SHALL RISE
WHEN NO SUNRISE GREETS MY MORNING
AND NO LIFE BEAM LIGHTS MY EYES
AND WHEN THEY LAY ME IN THAT COLD GROUND
AND MY DUST TO DUST THEY BEAR
PLEASE BE SURE I WEAR MY SMALL BLUE BUTTON
WITH THE COMPASSES AND THE SQUARE

WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE ALL A BLAZE IN GLORY
AND THE MASTER IN ALL HIS LOVE
OFFERS ME HIS HAND IN GREETINGS
TO THE ALTERS UP ABOVE
I WILL SEARCH THE HEAVENLY STATIONS
FOR MY BROTHERS OVER THERE
WHO HAVE WORN ON EARTH THE SMALL BLUE BUTTON
WITH THE COMPASSES AND THE SQUARE