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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
Margaret Sackville: Selections on peace and war
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Margaret Sackville
To One Who Denies the Possibility of a Permanent Peace
Old friend, I greet you! you are still the same:
You poisoned Socrates, you crucified
Christ, you have persecuted, mocked, denied.
Rejected God and cursed Him – in God’s name.
You gave monotonously to the flame
All those (whom now you honour) when the new
Truth stung their lips – for fear it might be true;
Then reaped where they had sown and felt no shame.
Familiar voice, old adversary – hail!
Yesterday’s fools are now your gods. Behold!
The generations pass and we can wait.
You slandered Shelley, Florence Nightingale;
Now a new splendour quivers in the cold
Grey shadows overhead ; still you are late.
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