Came War!

O joy! I was young,
And all the world sang.
In the stillness,
The wind and the sea
And the pulsating earth
Were an anthem to me.
O joy! I was young.
Came war! I was old,
And all my joy fled
With the slain.
And their youth; with the spring.
O the strange writhing earth
Was a torment undreamed!
Came war! I was old.
I try to forget
That I helped kill the Spring.
And brought grief
To the old; that I fought
In the agonised slaughter
Of those I could love.
I try to forget.

—Ruth I. Berry.