<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">A Prayer for Peace</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">Nearer</span> the eagles swoop in darkening rings,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">Death scents his awful quarry from afar,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">While men in millions march to bloody war</p><p class="line">Hateless, unhated, at the word of Kings:</p><p class="line">But somewhere hid beneath His secret wings</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">The sons of God, before a juster bar,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">Plead in His name who bore the cross and scar</p><p class="line">For Love that sees clear-eyed what war-lust brings.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Plead on ye seers with love-enlightened eyes,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">Hold up your hands to where the angels gaze</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:8%">With deep compassion on our human strife;</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">Prayer moves the world with power beyond amaze,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:8%">And they who look beyond this mortal life</p><p class="line">Know Peace on earth in Heaven hath great allies.</p></div><p class="byline">H. D. RAWNSLEY</p><em>Westminster Gazette, August</em> 4, 1914</body></html> · Great War