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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE LAMENT OF THE VOICELESS, by LAURA BELL EVERETT First Line: Wars are to be,' they say, they blindly say Last Line: They mourn for you, your sons who never were. Subject(s): Pacifism; Unborn; War; Peace Movements | |||
"Wars are to be," they say, they blindly say, Nor strive to end them. Had we eyes to see The ghosts that walk across the fields of slain, We might behold by each boy soldier's corpse An endless line who mourn his fateful doom. "Who are you?" asking, we might hear these words: "We are the men and women not to be, Because the father of our line was slain, Cut off untimely. Brave he was and strong; His heritage were ours had he not been The food of slaughter in a wanton war." Boy soldier, sleep, by fireside loved ones mourned; By neighbor comrades, half ashamed of life, When death claims him who went that they might stay. Boy soldier, sleep; if ever these forget, You still are mourned by that long line unborn, Who might have been but for the waste of war. They mourn for you, your sons who never were. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE DISTANCE by DENISE LEVERTOV THE PACIFIST; EPIGRAM by HILAIRE BELLOC PLANKED WHITEFISH by CARL SANDBURG TO A PACIFIST FRIEND by GEORGE SANTAYANA BREAKING COVER by ELAINE TERRANOVA TO A CERTAIN VERY UGLY BUILDING: THE ARMORY by VINCENT GODFREY BURNS THE OLD MEN AND THE YOUNG MEN by WITTER BYNNER WAR by RICHARD THOMAS LE GALLIENNE DEATH-GRAPPLE by LAURA BELL EVERETT |
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