In Honour of America, 1917

In Antithesis to Rosetti’s
“On the Refusal of Aid Between Nations”
 
Not that the earth is changing, O my God!
   Not that her brave democracies take heart
   To share, to rule her treasure, to impart
The wine to those who long the wine-press trod;
Not therefore trust we that beneath Thy nod,
   Thy silent benediction, even now
   In gratitude so many nations bow,
So many poor: not therefore, O my God!
 
But because living men for dying man
   Go to a million deaths, to deal one blow;
   And justice speaks one great compassionate tongue;
And nation unto nation calls “One clan
   We succourers are, one tribe!” By this we know
Our earth holds confident, steadfast, being young.


Webpage © 2001 ELC
Lane Core Jr. (lane@elcore.net)
http://poetry.elcore.net/CatholicPoets/Meynell/Meynell100.html
Created April 14, 2001; not revised.