p. 18

Little lads and grandsires, Women old with care; But all the men are dying men Or dead men over there.

No one stops to dig graves; Who has time to spare? The dead men, the dead men How the dead men stare.

Kings are out a-hunting— Oh, the sport is rare; With dying men and dead men Falling everywhere.

Life for lads and grandsires; Spoils for kings to share; And dead men, dead men, Dead men everywhere.

p. 19AFTER

p. 19

Over the din of battle, Over the cannons’ rattle, Over the strident voices of men and their dying groans, I hear the falling of thrones.

Out of the wild disorder That spreads from border to border, I see a new world rising from ashes of ancient towns; And the Rulers wear no crowns.

Over the blood-charged water, Over the fields of slaughter, Down to the hidden vaults of Time, where lie the worn-out things I see the passing of Kings.

p. 20THE PEACE ANGEL

p. 20

Angel of Peace, the hounds of war, Unleashed, are all abroad, And war’s foul trade again is made Man’s leading aim in life. Blood dyes the billow and the sod; The very winds are rife With tales of slaughter. Angel, pray, What can we do or think or say In times like these?  ‘Child, think of God!’

‘Before this little speck in space Called Earth with light was shod, Great chains and tiers of splendid spheres Were fashioned by His hand. Be thine the part to love and laud, Nor seek to understand. Go lift thine eyes from death-charged guns To one who made a billion suns; And trust and wait. Child, dwell on God!’

p. 21PEACE SHOULD NOT COME

p. 21

Peace should not come along this foul, earth way. Peace should not come, until we cleanse the path. God waited for us; now in awful wrath He pours the blood of men out day by day To purify the highroad for her feet. Why, what would Peace do, in a world where hearts Are filled with thoughts like poison-pointed darts? It were not meet, surely it were not meet For Peace to come, and with her white robes hide These industries of 

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