Nearer the eagles swoop in darkening rings,
Death scents his awful quarry from afar,
While men in millions march to bloody war
Hateless, unhated, at the word of Kings:
But somewhere hid beneath His secret wings
The sons of God, before a juster bar,
Plead in His name who bore the cross and scar
For Love that sees clear-eyed what war-lust brings.

Plead on ye seers with love-enlightened eyes,
Hold up your hands to where the angels gaze
With deep compassion on our human strife;
Prayer moves the world with power beyond amaze,
And they who look beyond this mortal life
Know Peace on earth in Heaven hath great allies.