Do not weep, maiden, for war is kind.
Because the lover threw wild hands toward the sky
And the affrighted steed ran on alone,
Do not weep.
War is kind.
Hoarse, booming drums of the regiment,
Little souls who thirst for fight,
These men were born to drill and die.
The unexplained glory flies above them,
Great is the Battle-God, great, and his Kingdom –
A field wher a thousand corpses lie.
Do not weep, babe, for war is kind.
Because your father tumbled in the yellow trenches,
Raged at his breast, gulped and died,
Do not weep.
War is kind.
Swift blazing flag of the regiment,
Eagle with crest of red and gold,
These men were born to drill and die.
Point for them the virtue of slaughter,
Make plain to them the excellence of killing
And a field where a thousand corpses lie.
Mother whose heart hung humble as a button
On the bright splendid shroud of your son,
Do not weep.
War is kind.
(Stephen Crane)
More Poetry from Stephen Crane:
Stephen Crane Poems based on Topics: Man, Gold, Love, War & Peace, Mothers, Vice & Virtue, Excellence, Sons- It was wrong t do this, said the angel (Stephen Crane Poems)
- A man saw a ball of gold in the sky; (Stephen Crane Poems)
- 'Scaped (Stephen Crane Poems)
- Black Riders Came From the Sea (Stephen Crane Poems)
- A man feared that he might find an assassin; (Stephen Crane Poems)
- There was a great cathedral (Stephen Crane Poem)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Love Poems, Man Poems, War & Peace Poems, Gold Poems, Sons Poems, Mothers Poems, Vice & Virtue Poems, Excellence PoemsBased on Keywords: humble, glory, babe, souls, threw, flag, splendid, kingdom, maiden, thirst, eagle