Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, LOVE AND YOUTH AND WAR, by DERRICK NORMAN LEHMER


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

LOVE AND YOUTH AND WAR, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Love and youth to the war they sent
Last Line: When love and youth to the war have gone?
Subject(s): Hate; Love; Murder; Social Protest; Soldiers; War; World War I; Youth; First World War


Love and youth to the war they sent,
Love with his soft eyes backward bent,
Youth with his eyes that forward burn,
War is the trade for such to learn.

Ho, men of murder! Train them straight;
Teach them your songs of lust and hate!
Love and youth are childish things,
Train them to do the work of kings!

Murder and pillage, wreck and burn;
This is the work that they must learn.
Crush the world with an iron hand;
This is the thing they must understand.

Kings and rulers, tell the truth;
What have you done with Love and Youth?
How will you dare to stand in the sun
When Love and Youth to the war have gone?





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