Danskeren. [volume] (Neenah, Wis.) 1892-1920, 1917-04-11
Who wants Wars, and when will they cease?
Dedicated to my wife.

On battlefelds. tom limb from limb,
BY s%hrapnell fired from cannons grim
The noblest work of God is strewn
Yes, by the millions they are slewn.
Why do men fight2 Why foster strife?
Why cause such sufferings, and waste Of life?
Why bend our energies just to destroy
What genius created for all to enjoy2
Why should the Germans use their skill
In efforts to destroy and kill
The Belgians, British, French and Russ
Is a mystery TO all of us.
And why should Russia, Britain, France
On crushing Germany take a chance?
What reasons have they? we dare to ask
Why did they start this awful task?
The father who looks with joy and pride
On the boy, that's growing by his side,
And expects him to take his place some day
Is not wishing for war to take him away.
1t almost breaks a mothers heart
When from her boy she is forced to part.
II mothers prayers were given heed
There never would be war indeed.
The youthful lovers with hearts so light
Who build their hopes on the future bright,
That they may forever together be
Are not looking for war and its misery.
Who then wants war? Who benefits
From soldiers dying in trench and pits?
Not those who fight at their rulers will,
And when war is over pays the bill.
King, Kaiser, Tsar, so we are told,
Their thrones on earth by divine right hold,
But rather limited would be their sphere
Did not the soldier keep them there.
The soldier for the king must play
When ordered out to kill and slay.
Child plays with soldiers of tin and wood
Kings play with soldiers of flesh and blood.
When after the battle the cost is told,
We find it exceeds a thousand fold
The object gained through the massacre -
o. what a hellish victory.
Look over the harvest and count the price
In mangled bodies, a sacrifice
To the God of War, that demon fierce
Who seems to thrive on women's tears.
o, pity the wounded, what awful sight
S%helLtorn, blood stained in that fearful fight.
Suffering torments in heaps they lie
While the blood drenched earth to the heavens cry.
Two thousand years ago was born,
At Bethlehem one Christmas morn,
The son Of God who gave his life
To save mankind from sin and strife.
He gladly helped the poor oppressed,
OF earthly goods he none possessed.
OF him it has been truly said,
He had not where to lay his head.
The sweetest message that came to men
Was brought by Jesus from Bethlehem,
And preached to the world since his lowly birth,
Good will to men means peace on earth.
Still wars are raging. There is no peace.
o, when, our Lord, shall the carnage cease.
No sparrow falls, but the master wills,
Does God direct the shot that kills?
We cry with Jesus on the cross,
Why hast Thou God forsaken us?
Look Thou in mercy on our plight
And lead us by thy holy light.
For man who is of woman born,
With sin and strife and misery torn,
OF trouble full, his days are few,
We pray that he may rest with you.
You sent your Son to make us free.
He lost his life on Calvary.
But Christians everywhere refrain
From believing that he died in vain.
We still rejocie that Christ was born
At Bethlehem that Christmas morn.
When we practice the message, sent by his birth,
OF good will to men, there1l be peace on earth.
Casper f. +. Nicholson,
2426 Saratoga Court, Omaha ,Nebr.