History & Politics

Disarmament

by John McCrae 1872–1918

From In Flanders Fields and Other Poems (1919)

History & PoliticsDeath & Dying

One spake amid the nations, "Let us cease
From darkening with strife the fair World's light,
We who are great in war be great in peace.
No longer let us plead the cause by might."

But from a million British graves took birth
A silent voice—the million spake as one—
"If ye have righted all the wrongs of earth
Lay by the sword! Its work and ours is done."

✦ ✦ ✦

One speaks among the nations of peace, but from a million British graves comes a silent voice: 'If ye have righted all the wrongs of earth, lay by the sword.'

MLA

McCrae, John. “Disarmament.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/mccrae/13/.

Chicago

McCrae, John. “Disarmament.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/mccrae/13/.

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