Poem May 14, 1955 Issue

CRUSADE

Fanny de Groot Hastings

With spears and plumes our ancestors engaged
In long crusades to wrest the Holy Land
From infidels; the battles then were waged
On a small stage, and fighting was by hand.

A greater cause presents itself today—
All lands are holy, the crusade world-wide,
All peoples are involved and need to pray
And, fearless, live as brothers side by side.

The weapons of our warfare should expunge
The carnal weapons fashioned to destroy—
The bombs, the guided missiles that would plunge
Mankind in night without a star of joy.

The weapons of our warfare should reveal
The fullness of God's blessing here and now,
Should animate and dedicate and heal
And trace the seal of Christ upon each brow.

The sum of our crusades is one not seven,
One vast engagement scheduled to His plan:
To show on earth the presence of His heaven,
The universal Godlikeness of man.

There is no time to lose: in this crusade
Each must enlist and all must play a part.
Victory rests upon the unafraid,
The tender brave, the wise, the pure in heart.

Fanny de Groot Hastings

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