Fanny Bixby Spencer: The shame of the cannonade

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Anti-war essays, poems, short stories and literary excerpts

American writers on peace and against war

Women writers on peace and war

Fanny Bixby Spencer: Will your son kill mine or will mine kill yours?

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Fanny Bixby Spencer
Nothing

There is nothing ahead on the scarlet path,
For wilted the glories fade
When stands revealed to the lightest mind
The shame of the cannonade.

There are nothing but shrouds in your knitting hands,
O women. Look up and see
That the death-forged shackles of crumbling time
Are the bonds of your loyalty.

There is nothing to gain from the belching guns
That deadlock the riven earth;
For nothing but hell is the mad exchange
For the boon of an age-long dearth.