The Criminal War

I am shocked beyond words!

(Said the statesman. 'Tis crime

That the clamoring herds

Should seek war at this time.

For a criminal war is sheer folly

Subversive to ideals sublime.

There are wars that are nice;

There are wars that are not.

And 'tis seeking with vice

That the nations should plot

World war when my land is unready.

I refuse to consider such rot.

My philosophy's clear;

My morality, too;

Tho' my rivals may sneer

At the things that I do.

If at present, for me, the war's illegal It must be illegal for you!

We are human, I trust;

And to decency wed.

Let's have a war if we must;

But at present I dread

What crimes may come out of the carnage,

If blood is illegally shed.

In the past, all along

We have cleaved to our creed:

We shall fight when we're strong

When we're not we still plead

Our revulsion to acts homicidal

Induced by man's envy and greed.

Keep the sword in its sheath;

Seek sweet peace for a time,

Till all armed to the teeth,

Our meek voices may climb

To sue for the blessings of Heaven

On butchery, purged of all crime.