War and Love/Proem

by Richard Aldington

For works with similar titles, see Proem.

 

PART I

War

"They said that this mystery never shall cease:The priest promotes war, and the soldier peace.'Blake.

PROEM

Out of this turmoil and passion,This implacable contest,This vast sea of effort,I would gather something of repose,Some intuition of the inalterable gods,Some Attic gesture.

Each day I grow more restless,See the austere shape elude me,Gaze impotently upon a thousand miseriesAnd still am dumb.

May, 1917