Page:When the Leaves Come Out (Chaplin 1917).pdf/31

 

The drums roll forth their summons,
 * The war-like bugles thrill,

From here and there and everywhere The slaves are given arms to bear
 * Some other slaves to kill.

Each one must do his "duty"—
 * Must find warm blood to spill;

For "wrong" or "right," with dread or spite, Although HE has no cause to fight;—
 * It is his master's will.

He leaves his wife or mother,
 * He learns to march and drill,

For wise men say, "Ah, haste the day When you can stab and shoot and slay—
 * God bless you while—YOU KILL!"

They praise him in the papers
 * With patriotic swill;

They dress him in a gaudy suit And teach him how to aim and shoot,
 * Then send him forth to—KILL.

The "lawful" zealots laud him,
 * (Their guarded codes are nil)

In accents loud they tell the crowd That "lawful" murder is allowed;
 * It IS NO CRIME TO KILL.

