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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
PEACE ON EARTH, by ROBERT FREEMAN Poet's Biography First Line: The men of the earth said: 'we must war' Last Line: "the saviour of men, he answered, ""why?" Variant Title(s): Why Subject(s): Peace; Religion; Theology | |||
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." But they who had seen the valiant die, The fathers of men, they answered, "Why?" 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." But they who had sung their lullaby, The mothers of men, they answered, "Why?" 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." But a crippled, cankered progeny, The sons of the culls, they answered, "Why?" 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." But down from a Cross uplifted high, The Saviour of men, He answered, "Why?" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MYSTIC BOUNCE by TERRANCE HAYES MATHEMATICS CONSIDERED AS A VICE by ANTHONY HECHT UNHOLY SONNET 11 by MARK JARMAN SHINE, PERISHING REPUBLIC by ROBINSON JEFFERS THE COMING OF THE PLAGUE by WELDON KEES A LITHUANIAN ELEGY by ROBERT KELLY A HYMN OF UNITY by ROBERT FREEMAN |
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