Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

CHRISTIANITY AND WAR by ERNEST HOWARD CROSBY

First Line: TALK, IF YOU WILL, OF HERO DEED
Last Line: OF WAR-LIKE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS.
Subject(s): CHRISTIANITY; EVIL; GOOD; HYPOCRISY; JESUS CHRIST; RELIGION; WAR; THEOLOGY;
Talk, if you will, of hero deed,
Of clash of arms and battle wonders;
But prate not of your Christian creed
Preached by the cannon's murderous thunders.

And if your courage needs a test,
Copy the pagan's fierce behavior;
Revel in bloodshed east and west,
But speak not with it of the Saviour.

The Turk may wage a righteous war
In honor of his martial Allah:
But Thor and Odin live no more—
Dead are the Gods in our Valhalla.

Be what you will, entire and free,
Christian or Warrior—each can please us;
But not the rank hypocrisy
Of war-like followers of Jesus.



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