The men of the earth said: "We must war As the men of the earth have warred; 'Tis ours to wield on the battlefield The unrelenting sword." @3But they who had seen the valiant die, The fathers of men, they answered, "Why?"@1 The men of the earth said: "We must arm, For so we would reveal The nobler part of the human heart, The love of the nation's weal." @3But they who had sung their lullaby, The mothers of men, they answered, "Why?"@1 Then men of the earth said: "We must fight, For so the fit survive; By the jungle law of fang and claw The strong are kept alive." @3But a crippled, cankered progeny, The sons of the culls, they answered, "Why?"@1 The men of the earth said: "We must fall, And falling build the road O'er which the race with quickening pace Can find its way to God." @3But down from a Cross uplifted high, The Saviour of men, He answered, "Why?"@1 | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A WINTER BLUEJAY by SARA TEASDALE THE EVENING WIND by WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT MISPLACED SYMPATHY by CHARLES FOLLEN ADAMS ODES: BOOK 1: ODE 4. AFFECTED INDIFFERENCE by MARK AKENSIDE LOVE'S CHANGE by ANNE REEVE ALDRICH ENVOI: DEATH (1) by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) POETRY: WHAT IS IT? by LEVI BISHOP |