Classic Poem

Was it for nothing, that Tryst of the Peace-makers?
Winters and summers have fled not a score, —
All the earth rocks with the thunders of battle,
All the world aches in the anguish of war.

Into the circle of horror she moveth,
Radiant, beautiful: " Here is my all!
Take me repentant! The Rights of the People
Henceforth forever my pledge and my call!"

Hear her, O fathers, who gave her to righteousness,
Hear her, O sons, who redeemed from eclipse!
Vision is starring again the sweet brows of her,
Song is reborn on the beautiful lips!

Not for a nothing! Through home-break and heart-break
Flooding as never the Dream surges now, —
" Peace on the earth," the resolve of the nations:
Souls of dead heroes are shrining the vow.

Peace born of battle! Through war to forgiveness!
Strange is the lessoning, ache of it long.
Hearts taught communion by hands that are crimson,
Crimsoned with blood of the brother gone wrong?

Yea, if it must be! The peoples lie gasping,
Caught in the clutch of his frenzy to rule;
War stalks incarnate wherever he rages;
Liberty perishes, feast of a ghoul.

God of the Must-Be, keep thou the heart, then!
Used as thy angel of smiting, we ask,
" Angel," — not dragon: O Heart of America,
Angel thyself for the awe of thy task!

Thou and thy comrades! No dragon within us
Serves the High God to slay dragons without:
Only Saint Michael receives the commission,
Only Saint George shall the victory shout.

Nothing for self, but solely to liberate!
Battle, but only that battle may cease!
Victor, to make the earth safe for democracy,
Widen man's brotherhood, stablish his peace!

Humbly, forgivingly, then shall the nations
Seek them together a Sinai untrod,
Hear the New Law in a Tryst of the Peace-makers,
Frame a New World for the peoples of God!