THE people whisper a phrase
In the cities,
In the villages,
Across the land
And from any pulpit;
And their sons whisper it
To their sons,
Who whisper it to the stars
A thousand years from now.

While the words are remembered,
Who will remember their meaning . . .
When the earth is scorched with flame
And famine, and the whispering mouths
Are parched and torn and crushed
Against the dust of dead mouths
That whispered a thousand wars ago?