Wars

Carl Sandburg

1878 to 1967

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In the old wars drum of hoofs and the beat of shod feet 
In the new wars hum of motors and the tread of rubber tires 
In the wars to come silent wheels and whirr of rods not yet dreamed out in the heads of men 

In the old wars clutches of short swords and ]abs into faces with spears 
In the new wars long-range guns and smashed walls, guns running a spit of metal and men falling in tens and twenties 
In the wars to come new silent deaths, new silent hurlers not yet dreamed out in the heads of men 

In the old wars kings quarreling and thousands of men following 
In the new wars kings quarreling and millions of men following 
In the wars to come kings kicked under the dust and millions of men following great causes not yet dreamed out in the heads of men