PROTESTATION

Otago Witness, Issue 2429, 3 October 1900, Page 56

PROTESTATION

AGAINST WAR—AT ANY PRICE. Up through the air .where the war-note is ring* ing> See ye the darkness that looms in the cloud?, See how the grey mist its garment is flinging, Soon it will cover the earth with its shroud. Are its horrors not brought to your heart and your lips? Do ye not see that the earth's in eclipse? Eclipse of its goodness—its greatness, ita glory— _ • Eclipse of its love, of its, sweetness, its grace— * Horrors of darkness to mothers that bore ye Must in the future o'ershadow the race — Spring from its sources, and blacken its fame, While the world is still playing its terrible game. Shudder ye may, as the cold shadow passes, Chilling and dooming the beauty of life; Weep for its flowers—they are falling a3 grasses, Cruelly withered by pain and by strife; Call in your anguish for mercy andj peace-^ And pray, while they perish, for carnage to! cease. Shriek —yes, ye will, when your own hearts ifj rendeth, — Hearts which it holds in its terrible spell; The lives which ye cherished, the blood that it spendeth, The hearts that are broken, the devils mayi tell: The blood of thy brother cries up from the ground The while that thy passionate plaudits resouad. But ye forget it,—oh, yes, ye forget it! How ye contribute to Moloch's desire, When with cheer and with shouting his pas-s-ion is whetted, | And -nar-gods are riding in chariots of fire. Oh! but theii appetite's still unsidSced, • While ye seek not tlie peace nor the passion of j Christ. Image of Christ in the Christian defacing — Slaughtered and trampled, uncovered by phroud. Come to judgment, ye Daniel, in deep selfj abasing: j 'Che blood of the martyrs is calling aloud. The blood of thy brother cries up from the ground, And the world is in swoon while its echoes resound. JOYCE JOCELYN. Caiiton Gore Road, Auckland, August I".