Poetry Archives

Seven nations stood with their hands on the jaws of death.
It was the first week in August, Nineteen Hundred Fourteen.
I was listening, you were listening, the whole world was
     listening,
And all of us heard a Voice murmuring:
               “I am the way and the light,
               He that believeth on me
               Shall not perish
               But shall have everlasting life.”
Seven nations listening heard the Voice and answered:
               “O Hell!”
The jaws of death began clicking and they go on clicking.
               “O Hell !”