Paradox

(To my Brother—in cadet uniform.)

How complete your education is, my dear.
You start each day with prayer
And words of Christ,
And in the afternoon
You learn to butcher men and kill.
They teach philosophy in morning schools;
That warfare is the trade of fools
And profiteers,
And in the afternoon
They teach you war's unthinking skill.
I trust it is not lost on you,
This splendidly unbiassed point of view.

—M.J.