Let No Man

Let no man dare, so, too, demand, 
to put a foot on no-man's-land.
Where rot the dead who dared before, 
why dig them up to bury more? 

Let no man face the bayonets, 
the spheres of led, the barb wire nets.
To rip and gut the best of men; 
for what, do tell, for medals then? 

Let no man doubt when hail the brave, 
when gathered round the unknown grave.
Who queried not the reasons why; 
the dead be blest but damn the lie.

Let no man wield the words of hate, 
to rant and rave, to denigrate.
To rile the mob, the madding yell, 
"To arms, me lads!" For what, pray tell?

Let no man where the great grandstand, 
the waving flags, the marching band.
How easily led, en mass to queue,
seduced by the hullabaloo.

Let no man take another's breath, 
make heroes from another's death.
Make all to praise his kingdoms won, 
be not of him what he's become.

Let no man spill a drop of blood
for spoil or king, revenge or God.
Break rank, disarm; leave them who be
who conjure up some enemy. 

Let no man judge, condemn, decry, 
heed not to hate or love deny.
Leave man his lot to toil and reap
leave warring pigs their wars to keep.