Poems (Crandall)/Christmas Spirit

by Rosa Neil Crandall

Why?

Did you ever waken at midnight
  And hear, in the pause of the strife,
The groaning of millions and millions
  Who are fighting the battle of life?

Oh, the prayers that ascend unto Heaven,
  The tears that the anguished let fall,
The suffering hid by the darkness,
  E'en the heart of mankind might appall.

But the wounds are hidden, though bleeding,
  As they rise again to the fray,
And battle, oh bravely they battle
  Throughout the broad light of day.

It is true some are dead, some are dying,
  But our lessons of warfare we con;
And the fallen ones soon are forgotten,
  As the battle goes merrily on.

With what haste we succor our brother
  When India's famine is sore,
When flood or fire has been sweeping
  Our own American shore.

Then why are we hurting each other?
  And why this suffering dire?
More far reaching, terrible even,
  Than havoc of famine or fire.

Oh, teach me the lesson of kindness,
  The gospel of love divine;
That no brother or sister suffer
  Through word or deed of mine.

There are foes within we may conquer,
  Our belligerent powers to employ.
Then why do we pierce one another,
  The blessing of night to destroy?

Ah, many hearts sigh for an answer
  As they start in the pause of the strife,
At the cries from the wounded in spirit,
  In this terrrible battle of life.