War is Kind - River Whyless

Do not weep, child: war is kind

For your father threw wild hands toward the sky

And his steed ran alone in the night

Do not weep, child: war is kind

On orphan now, you’re the one

And what you recall of him

You look for now a man

Here in the callus of the southern ground

Where you buried him

A boy has risen to stand and you find his eyes as blue

And his heart is red and his soul is burnin' white

Ah, but you can’t believe your eyes

When you find

That it’s callin' him to the light

Like it called him to the line

But do not weep, maiden: war is kind

As your lover tumbles in yellow trenches

Rage in his breast, gulps and dies

Do not weep, maiden: war is kind

Widow now he is gone

And how you long for him

And see him now in your son

Ah, but you can’t believe your eyes as we go blind again

Blind again, the united state of Americans

Who are callin' now for their boys

Callin' now for your boy

But do not weep, mother: war is kind

As you hang your heart humble as a button

On the shroud of your son

Do not weep, mother: war is kind

Do not weep, mother: war is kind