THERE is no joy in strife, Peace is my great desire; Yet God forbid I lose my life Through fear to face the fire. A peaceful man must fight For that which peace demands,— Freedom and faith, honor and right, Defend with heart and hands. Farewell, my friendly books; Farewell, ye woods and streams; The fate that calls me forward looks To a duty beyond dreams. Oh, better to be dead With a face turned to the sky, Than live beneath a slavish dread And serve a giant lie. Stand up, my heart, and strive For the things most dear to thee! Why should we care to be alive Unless the world is free? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...HUFFMAN'S PHOTOGRAPH OF THE GRAVES OF THE UNKNOWN AT LITTLE BIGHORN by KAREN SWENSON LONDON CHURCHES by RICHARD MONCKTON MILNES PARADISE LOST: BOOK 1 by JOHN MILTON LAMENT OF THE MASTER ERSKINE by ALEXANDER SCOTT (1520-1590) CIVILL WARR by JOSEPH BEAUMONT |