Peace

Dig no more graves
in this sweet earth.
Let your bloodied streets lie still,
and may mothers grieve no more.

Listen - your children are singing songs of hope:
let them be your prophets;
do not burden their young hearts with the iron weight of revenge.
Why should their chosen paths be changed
simply because old men refuse to forget?

Let the past be past and gone, and
leave uncrushed the gentle blossoms
that flower in these fragile places.

So set down your drums;
let the bugles sound no more for war, and
fold away the standards that went before your armies.
Let the dreams you dream be peace.

Come, dare to embrace, and smile.
Leave go of the winter frost that so hardens your hearts;
you do not need it, it has been your soul's death.
Let this good earth be warmed by a new-born spring,
and, neighbours once more, taste the coming of summer
under those old drowsy olive trees
as the white doves take wing.