An Admonition for Peace

Poemata, XII

WE must learn the futility of peace
Each seeks his own as justice now
Such justice therefore must increase
Until as full grown as we allow
It walks so brazen about the earth 
That we must comment upon its girth;

The wisest told me "war is hell"
But drink of it with joyous thirst
I told myself, "it is just as well"
For if such wisdom was the first
It would have known the ease of war
As we slip into it evermore;

And so the dying animal
Must be this age we're beholden to
A monster many-headed, foul
As seeing itself this truth it knew--
That it does not deserve to live
In spite of ev'ry excuse they give;

So futile to deal with a dying man
Whose reason points but to the grave
Futile to fight him, and futile to stand--
Because it is futile, and cannot save
Because injustice must increase
For this, for this we must seek peace.