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by Stephen Crane (1871 - 1900)

Do not weep, maiden, for war is kind
Language: English 
Do not weep, maiden, for war is kind.
Because your lover threw wild hands toward the sky
And the affrighted steed ran on alone,
Do not weep.
War is kind.

Hoarse, booming drums of the regiment, Little souls who thirst for fight, These
 men were born to drill and die. The unexplained glory flies above them, Great is the
 battle-god, great, and his kingdom -- A field where a thousand corpses lie.

Do not weep, babe, for war is kind.
Because your father tumbled in the yellow trenches,
Raged at his breast, gulped and died,
Do not weep.
War is kind.

Swift blazing flag of the regiment, Eagle with crest of red and gold, These men
 were born to drill and die. Point for them the virtue of slaughter, Make plain to
 them the excellence of killing And a field where a thousand corpses lie.

Mother whose heart hung humble as a button
On the bright splendid shroud of your son,
Do not weep.
War is kind.

About the headline (FAQ)

Text Authorship:

  • by Stephen Crane (1871 - 1900), no title, appears in War Is Kind and Other Lines, no. 1, first published 1899 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

  • by John Wallace Carter (1929 - 1991), "War is kind", published 1976 [ baritone, SATB chorus, and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
  • by Michael Hennagin (1936 - 1993), "War is kind", published 1968, rev. 1972 [ SATB chorus, piano, flute, 6 percussion instruments, 2 slide projectors, electronic tape, slides ], from The Unknown [sung text not yet checked]
  • by Ulysses Simpson Kay (1917 - 1995), "War is kind", published 1972 [ SATB chorus and instrumental ensemble (13 instruments) ], from Stephen Crane Set [sung text not yet checked]
  • by James Lipscomb Waters (b. 1930), "War is kind" [ voice, piano ] [sung text not yet checked]

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2004-02-09
Line count: 20
Word count: 166

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