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.