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Anti-war essays, poems, short stories and literary excerpts
British writers on peace and war
Women writers on peace and war
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Adelaide A. Procter
From The Voice of the Wind
It has been on the field of battle,
Where the dying and wounded lie;
And it brings the last groan they uttered,
And the ravenous vulture’s cry.
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From Murmurs
An echo rings forever,
The sound can never cease;
It speaks to God of glory,
It speaks to Earth of peace.
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No creature of God’s too lowly
To murmur peace and praise…
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From The Two Spirits
“Thy will, O God be done!
“From desolate homes is rising
One prayer, – “Let carnage cease!
On friends and foes have mercy,
O Lord, and give us peace!”
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From A Legend of Provence
War, cruel war, defaced the land, and came
So near the convent with its breath of flame,
That, seeking shelter, frightened peasants fled,
Sobbing out tales of coming fear and dread.
Till after a fierce skirmish, down the road,
One night came straggling soldiers, with their load
Of wounded, dying comrades…
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