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Anti-war essays, poems, short stories and literary excerpts
British writers on peace and war
Maurice Hewlett: In the Trenches
Maurice Hewlett: Who prayeth peace?
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Maurice Hewlett
A Song for Two Voices
O mother, mother, isn’t it fun,
The soldiers marching past in the sun?
Child, child, what are you saying?
Come to church. We should be praying.
Look, mother, at their bright spears!
The leaves are falling like women’s tears.
You are not looking at what I see.
Nay, but I look at what must be.
Hark to the pipes! See the flag flying!
I hear the sound of a girl crying.
How many hundreds before they are done!
How many mothers wanting a son!
Here rides the general, pacing slow!
Well he may, if he knows what I know!
O, this war, what a glorious game!
Sin and shame, sin and shame.
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