Why has the shame of bloody battles stood? The ancient Book of value more than gold Relates, for years, how soldiers' lives are sold. Do nations value victory's dreary load? Must love or terror reign upon God's road? The pyramids where lie the kings of old Grew great in piles that slavery's hardship told And wealth was ground in grief on God's abode. To hear the bugles call, the trumpets, roar Of cannon, beat of drums, the heat, the flare! Does striving civilization welcome war? What says the Book: then beat the sword and spear To plowshare and to pruninghook? Or bear The wars that human hearts abhor and fear? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...WEEDS by EDNA ST. VINCENT MILLAY IDYLLS OF THE KING: TO THE QUEEN by ALFRED TENNYSON IN MEMORIAM A.H.H.: 23 by ALFRED TENNYSON THE LONELY STREET by WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS COMPARISON OF LOVE TO A STREAM FALLING FROM THE ALPS by THOMAS WYATT CHARACTERS: MR. AND MRS. EDWARDS by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD THE SPINNER by CLARA DOTY BATES |