Poems (Kennedy)/War Babies
"WAR BABIES"
"WAR babies"—term so pitiful It fills the eyes with sting of tears;Not all the accusing epithets Of time we call the Christian years Seems half so sorrowful.
And yet—it is their rightful name, Though not because Mars held his shieldAnd 'neath its shadow they were sired 'Mid all the din of tented field And heart-break of the strife.
Not this the reason, no. But, ah! More sad than this a hundred fold—"War babies," since the ones who gave them life, The men and women who should hold To God's clear-written law
Made war on righteousness, and beat Down in the dust the law divineOf wedlock first, and in its stead Set up the pagan-passion sign Of free love and its bitter fruit.
"War babies"—"Thousands of them?" Not once has time's long record shownWholesale arraignment such as this Of womanhood; nor has been known Such breakdown of morality.
"War babies?" Yea; but war against Those high decrees of truth and rightThat hold the world at even poise—base war In which there was no spirit fight Against the hosts of hell.