Nectar and Blood + 

If I should worship at thine ancient shrine, + 

Where thy good sons, incensed by love of war, + 

Now clamor, as their fathers did of yore⁠— + 

If I should sacrifice what is not mine, + 

Nor any living god’s, nor even thine⁠— + 

If for the sake of honor I must pour + 

This cup of life upon thy barren shore, + 

How will it fare then with my love divine? + 

No! let thy sons go forth to burn and slay: + 

Let them for love of thee and glory smear + 

And tear the love of all that’s pure and dear; + 

Let them this loveless love in rage display; + 

I can not join them; no, I can not cheer + 

As they beneath my window pass today. + 

What care I for the tears the maudlin crowd + 

Sheds o’er my bier⁠—for praise of Church and State⁠— + 

For glory that remains within the gate + 

Of worldly things⁠—for men’s esteem avowed⁠— + 

For freedom that is not with love endowed⁠— + 

For fame that lingers oft and comes too late, + 

When these the sorrow of my love create + 

And haunt her with the shadow of my shroud? + 

How cowardly, self-centered have I grown⁠— + 

How dead to true and noble feelings all? + 

Why not, when they the human soul enthrall⁠— + 

Why not, when they the beast in man enthrone? + 

I cling to love, and with love I will fall, + 

Unwept, unsung, unhonored and unknown. + 

What will these kings and war-lords of the land + 

And all their ministers of murder fell + 

Do with their arms and fleets⁠—all tools of hell⁠— + 

If every son of man resolve to stand + 

A-wielding, king-like, in his home the wand, + 

Beside the ones he loves and honors well? + 

Can force this gentle host of peace compel, + 

When loving hearts their amber wings expand? + 

O love, though hounded, outlawed we may be⁠— + 

Though Slander, dagger-drawn, be on our trail⁠— + 

Though Hatred with her hydra tongues should rail + 

At us, and though left sinking in the sea + 

Of ostracism, ay, never will I quail, + 

But will now and forever cling to thee. + 