Anti-war essays, poems, short stories and literary excerpts
American writers on peace and against war
Women writers on peace and war
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Ida Whipple Benham
The Friend of Peace
He who declares himself of war the foe,
How few he finds who understand his speech!
How many with vague apprehension reach
Midway to listen; but to hear, to know,
Vex not their easy souls! The tinsel show,
The boastful wrath of war, more loudly preach
Than may the poor disciple who would teach
The martial age the Master’s will to know.
“Unpatriotic!” “Treasonable!” “Mad!”
Because he pleads the right of reason’s sway,
And holds the truth as taught by Christ our Lord.
Fierce epithets! But earth shall yet be glad,
Greatly rejoicing that some dare obey
When Christ the King commands, “Put up thy sword!”
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