Paul Hartal

Peace is more
than the absence of war,
more than
the enforced decorum
of a shaky truce,
enveloped in the ovum
of agony and abuse,
of no relief,
the grim tar
of a bloody past burning,
a scorching scar
of woes and grief.

Peace is more
than the absence of war,
the phoenix rising
from the ruins
of Stalingrad and Berlin.

Peace is more than
the terrible silence
of the ashes of Hiroshima
and Auschwitz.

For, real peace rests
in all nations just,
in accord and friendship,
mutual respect and trust.

Real peace means
the extended hand
of all faiths in amity
in every land, and
mothers breastfeeding
their babies in serenity.

For, peace is more
than the absence of war.

Real peace means
the bliss of building
new habitats and cities,
where concrete shelters
are needless,
where shaky shields
are useless.

Real peace means
tranquil fields
where farmers sing, planting
rice, sowing seeds of soy
and wheat and rye in joy
in the pristine morning.

For peace is more
than the absence of war.

My soul
all the days
yearns for peace,
soaring upwards
in the rays
of the dawn sun,
longing for
Noah's rainbow.

Now look! The rivers
placidly flow.
And above the mists
of first lights, graced
with diamond dews,
a blue dove flies
beyond the peak
with olive leaves
in her beak.

In a war-torn world
She carries on her wings
to every country and nation
the blessed harmonies
of concert and cooperation.

The Dove of Peace:
She offers
to all the peoples
of the world
the goodwill of man,
the promise of halcyon days,
true concord, the rebirth
of the dream of unity
in today's
discordant Earth.

For, peace is more
than the absence of war.

But if our will prevails,
Isaiah's vision will come true:

"And they shall beat
their swords
into ploughshares,
and their spears
into pruning-knives;
nation shall not lift up
sword against nation,
neither shall they learn
war any more".

For, peace is more
than the absence of war.