Peace

Desmond Egan's PEACE pome has been translated into 28 languages as the Peace Poem of the Millenium

Just to go for a walk out the road

Just that

under the deep trees

which whisper of peace

to break the bread of words

with someone passing

Just that

four of us round a pram

and baby fingers asleep

Just to join the harmony

the fields the blue everyday hills

the puddles of daylight and

you might hear a pheasant

echo through the woods

or plover may waver by

as the evening poises with a blackbird

on its table of hedge

Just that

and here and there a gate

a bungalow's bright window

the smell of woodsmoke of lives

Just that

but Sweet Christ that

is more than most of mankind can afford

with the globe still plaited in its own

crown of thorns

too many starving eyes

too many ancient children

squatting among flies

too many stockpiles of fear

too many dog jails too many generals

too many under torture by the impotent

screaming into the air we breathe

too many dreams stuck in money jams

too many mountains of butter selfishness

too many poor drowning in the streets

too many shantytowns on the outskirts of life

too many of us not sure what we want

so that we try to feed a habit for everything

until the ego puppets the militaries

mirror our own warring face

too little peace

 

Hear Desmond Egan read his Peace poem at International Festival

Desmond Egan, an Introduction

Hugh Kenner's assessment of Egan's Poetry

Desmond Egan, a Bibliography

Egan's ELEGIES reviewed

Desmond Egan on Hopkins's Poetry

Desmond Egan analysis of As Kingfishers catch Fire

Search the Gerard Manley Hopkins website