IF God is thrilled by a battle cry, If He can bless the moaning fight, If, when the trampling charge goes by God Himself is the leading knight; If God laughs when the guns thunder, If He yells when the bullet sings -- Then, bewildered, I but wonder The God of Love can love such things! The white gulls wheeling over the plough, The sun, the reddening trees -- We, being enemies, I and thou -- There is no meaning in these. There is no flight on the wings of Spring, No scent in the summer rose, The roundelays that the blackbirds sing -- There is no meaning in those! If you must kill me -- why the lark, The hawthorn bud, and the corn? Why do the stars bedew the dark? Why is the blossom born? If I must kill you -- why the kiss Which made you? There is no why! If it be true we were born for this -- Merciless God, good-bye! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SELF-REJECTED by JEAN STARR UNTERMEYER SONG: WOO'D AND MARRIED AND A' by JOANNA BAILLIE THE AUTHOR TO HER BOOK by ANNE BRADSTREET ON THE DEATH OF MRS. (NOW LADY) THROCKMORTON'S BULLFINCH by WILLIAM COWPER IN THE MOONLIGHT by THOMAS HARDY |