Interregnum

Butcher the evil millionaire, peasant,

And leave him stinking in the square.

Torture the chancellor. Leave the ambassador

Strung by his thumbs from the pleasant

Embassy wall, where the vines were.

Then drill your hogs and sons for another war.

Fire on the screaming crowd, ambassador,

Sick chancellor, brave millionaire,

And name them by the name that is your name.

Give privilege to the wound, and maim

The last resister. Poison the air

And mew for peace, for order, and for war.

View with alarm, participant, observer,

Buried in medals from the time before.

Whisper, then believe and serve and die

And drape fresh bunting on the hemisphere

From here to India. This is the world you buy

When the wind blows fresh for war.

Hide in the dark alone, objector;

Ask a grenade what you are living for,

Or drink this knowledge from the mud.

To an abyss more terrible than war

Descend and tunnel toward a barrier

Away from anything that moves with blood.