A Prophet of Peace + 

“The world is young, perverse, and bad, + 

The virtues all are wanting; + 

The gods are dead and men are mad + 

And wickedness is haunting + 

The human heart, an honored guest, + 

As robbers of the night infest + 

A wayside inn in Camilhad. + 

“Hate walks the earth all unafraid, + 

And neighbor murders neighbor; + 

Greed draws on Greed the battle-blade, + 

And Labor strangles Labor. + 

The widow and the orphan cry + 

For bread while benefactors ply + 

Unlashed by law, their dreadful trade. + 

“King, president, and patriot + 

Serve their accurst ambition; + 

The soldier and the sans-culottes, + 

The priest and politician, + 

Are blowing with impested breath + 

The coals of war that sparkle death. + 

Peace, righteousness, and love are not. + 

“But I shall live to see the day + 

Whose golden dawn is breaking! + 

The reign of war no more shall lay + 

Our dust, nor hearts be aching. + 

Lo! all mankind in brotherhood + 

Shall study only to be good, + 

And fling the sword of self away!” + 

So chanted one inspired and fain + 

His message to deliver + 

To men who toiled upon the plain + 

And bled along the river, + 

And all the world was foul with crime! + 

This prophet lived about the time + 

That Lamech’s wife bare Tubal-cain. + 